The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-02
Canker

Canker
 In the early spring there is generally something the matter with a dogs ears There are several reasons for this and they may be briefly summed up as dirt insects and disorders of the blood. It will perhaps be as well just to take a glance at the anatomy of the ears, as slight insight into this will help considerably to throw a light on the frequency with which the organ is affected Anatomists speas of an external and an internal ear With the latter we shall not deal at all, al- though we shall have to speak of the in side of the ear, which is however, a totally different thing from the anatonl-
 cal internal ear, which contains the deli cate apparatus that carries out the func- ton of the sense of hearing.
 Roughly, the parts we shall have to deal with are the hair outside, the skin, the gristle or cartilage, of the flap, and the tube which leads from the ear to the throat. Any observer will have noticed that the flap of the ear and the character of the hair covering it vary very much with the kind of work a dog has to do the soft overhanging flap of the spaniel, covered with silky hair is very different to the tough flap of the wire-haired terrier with it's fringe of stiff brush-lil1e hairs. The one has to work through priclsly brushwood, the other throuh sandy grit or clinging mud. and each ear is arranged as nature always arranges such things, to help forward the work, but it can cas- fly be seen that one class of parasite will I~x% I.-J1 kl.- the other, while parasite that likes to be in the sun will prefer the bristy ear. In either case the irritation caused by such a visitor will cause the dog to scratch and shake and later we shall note how this affects the ear and the dog.
 The more open ear of the terrier and pointer style allows a freer penetration of dirt or parasites into the inside of the flap than in the case of loose, over hanging ear and it will be interesting to note the frequency with which the outside of the flap is affected in the loose hang ing type while in the other the mischief will more often be found on the inside. Between the skin and the cartilage there is soft tissue which contains the blood vessels and their drainage tubes with the nerves, the constant Tapping, banging and scratching which dog, who has an irri- tation in the flap of his ear indulges in, naturally bruises this softer part, breaks the little blood vessels, clogs up the lit- tie drains, and hurts the delicate nerves. The swelling and bruising which occurs is called external canker, the cure for which consists in removing the cause, which may be a parasite on the skin or inside the flap on the skin or even lower down in the tube of the ear. Pleas and ticks are great offenders in the way of lying hidden under the little curls of cartilage at the edge of the flap. or under the big ger ones at the opening of the tube
 This tube is lined with a delicate mem brane, the cells of which have special mission in life, namely to prevent tiny atoms of mischief getting down the tube and irritating the real internal ear and throat Now a tick or flea becomes a decided insanitary nuisance to these cells and they do their level best to remove it by pouring out thin waxy fluid which is intended to lubricate the tube, destroy the intruder and assist i'll his expulsion, but which mixed with the excreta of the intruder and the external dust forms a very objectionable discharge which fur ther initiates the cells and those of the skin inside the flap and the condition known as internal canker is in the pro- cess of being brought about.
 If there is swelling as big as a goose egg on the out and insides of the flap it is comparatively easy matter to see it, but if the mischief is deep down in the d root of the trouble. The dogs ear is prob. ab, so very painful that he has the strone >st objection to anyone handling it at all, to say nothing of pulling it about and prying into it, so that it is very necessary to secure him well. tie up his mouth with broad. comfortable tape and cOnf1ne his legs either by swaddIing him in big bag or rug or by tying his legs; the former is preferable and more prac- tical. I offer this course for dogs that try to snap and bite, not all, as there are some good dogs'' when it comes to doc- toring.
 If fleas or ticks are found to be at the root of the mischief they should be de- stroyed If mango parasites are the cause of the trouble very weak solution of chloride of zinc. not to exceed 1-2000 will be found very effectual. especially If combined with methylated spirit. If dirt pure and simple is at the bottom of the trouble, soap and water, followed by a thorough drying will clear the way for treatment. If operative interference with the knife is needed 1t is far better to place the dog in veterinary surgeons hands than to experiment. as bold and true incisions are needed and often the diseased tissue has to be removed in ad- dition, and skill is required to do this so as not to blemish the dog upon re- covery.
 Canker is a most awful nuisance. and the constant scratching and shaking of the ear is most annoying to the owner and equally painful to the dog The main thing is to have an effective germicide combined with some healing drug, and the regular use of such a mixture will sener- ally effect a cure if carefully and persts- tently applied. The whole of the inner part of the ear should be well swabbed out for if the disease is neglected. es- pecially at the lower part of the ear. ul cers will form deep down. where it is al- most impossible to get at them. and the discharge that comes from them escape by the mouth as wellas from the outsftie ear. and is most offensive to the small as well as seriously damaging to the dog's health. The ear must be well cleaned out when things have arrived at this stage. for the application of a rem edy.
 One of the best homemade remedies have found is a N-cent bottle of sweet oil, mixed thoroughly with tablespoonful of iodoform. The mixture is rather offen- sive. but it effects a cure in most cases. Another good treatment is made by the Common Sense Remedy company of n | Church street, New York. This leaves no smell or oily condition after treat 1 ment.