410 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGICAL PATHOLOGY. 
necessary, in the first place, to establish a distinction between them. 
This can always be done by an ocular examination, by having 
the animal muzzled with a piece of firm cord and secured behind 
his poll, and then casting him upon his sound side, and with a spe- 
culum auris, or, in its absence, a pair of common dressing forceps, 
expanding the opening of the concha exposed to the direct rays of 
the sun, and obtaining a distinct and complete view of the exposed 
portion of the tube. 
In the first variety — the soft vascular excrescence — if it be 
within reach and pedunculated (which it usually is, and which 
may be known by the possibility of passing a small curved silver 
probe between the body of the polypus and the walls of the meatus, 
excepting, however, the small space corresponding to the pedicle of 
attachment of the tumour), it should at once be excised with a pair 
of curved scissors, or with a small knife having a curved cutting 
edge of a few lines in length. The removal by the scissors is the 
safest and most expert mode, as it only requires a little caution 
and care in introducing their points upon the pedicle of the growth, 
and then, by their expansion, including the entire breadth of its 
base. It may also be noosed by a ligature of silver wire, silk, or 
horse-hair; but in this way a considerable time is spent without 
any corresponding benefit accruing ; and it may also be twisted off 
by means of pronged forceps ; but these are apt to leave behind a 
large and ragged base, from which the tumour may again spring 
with great rapidity. Immediately after its removal, the base of 
the tumour should be carefully destroyed with nitrate of silver, and 
this should be repeated daily so long as there may be any appear- 
ance of the regeneration of the growth. In the intervals, the ear 
should be washed out with the tepid solution of soap daily, and, as 
often as can be daily accomplished, a saturated solution of acetate 
of lead, sulphate of alum, or acetate of zinc, should be dropped into 
the ear ; and this should be scrupulously continued so long as the 
discharge may remain. After the removal of the polypus, it must 
be remembered that only one part of the disease is removed, and 
that there still remains, in the majority of cases, an ulcer or a cari- 
ous condition of the meatus. This is to be treated in the same 
manner as that which I have recommended for the treatment of the 
tumour after its excision, and the only circumstance that must be 
specially attended to, is the possibility of the regeneration of the 
growth. I may also mention, that if the solution of the acetate of 
lead be used, the discharge from the ear, after a few applications, 
may become nearly as black as ink. This is the result of the che- 
mical decomposition of the solution of lead by the sulphureous con- 
stituents of the carious discharge. Should this black discharge, 
