310 
FRANK H. MILLER. 
In these cases we find that excessive Inoistiire can and does 
produce the required conditions, and indeed may be the direct 
means of effectually precipitating the very condition it was in¬ 
tended to prevent. 
The filth is composed in greater part of the accnmnlation of 
secretion of the sernminous glands and desquamated epithelial 
cells, and can at best be only very imperfectly removed by ordi¬ 
nary methods of cleansing, and the nitrogeneous materials make 
under the action of water, especially if soap be used, a most 
desirable medium for the growth of those common forms of 
micro-organisms which abound in the ears, as well as upon the 
skin of the most healthy and well-cared for animals. 
Thus filth, plus moisture and micro-organisms, figure jointly 
in the production of this condition. 
That abnormal moisture is one of the prime essentials, we 
can safely infer from the comparative immunity which dogs 
with short ears enjoy, as compared with those with long, heavy, 
over-hanging organs. The erect ear offers the advantage of per¬ 
fect evaporation, thereby rendering the action of micro-organ¬ 
isms comparatively inert, for certainly few would deny that such 
an ear would be quite as greatly exposed to both accumulation 
of materials and micro-organisms as would those of the pendu¬ 
lous form. 
The cropped ear, it matters not in what breed of dogs, is one 
seldom involved in otitis if properly healed after operation (one 
good point in this fashionable mutilation). 
Take this same subject, of the short, erect ear, cleanse his 
organs thoroughly and allow them to become perfectly dry, and 
with a long woolen roller bandage, bind them closely down over 
the sides of the head so as to effectually prevent evaporation, 
and allow them to remain confined in this position for two or 
three days and in the vast majority of cases we will cause to be 
developed an eczema corresponding in every particular to those 
cases which occur in practice, which it may take days to effect¬ 
ually overcome by treatment. 
In this case the moisture necessary has been derived from 
