hat he supposed Sam (the head groom)
had been pouring some dressing into the ear of a dog that had got canker.
Of what the dressing that had occasioned such pain was composed, I never
inquired; but we may judge of its power to destroy the bone, from the
extent of the agony which it produced. No wonder, when such powerful
agents were employed, the bone, the brain, or any other part, was
affected.

Thank heaven! there is one good custom prevalent in this disease--dogs
affected with it are brought to us early. Often, when the animal is only
observed to be constantly shaking and scratching the ear, the proprietors
bring the dog for us, to remove something from the interior of the organ.
At other times, and with the most careless or unobservant masters, the dog
is brought under our notice with a blackened discharge within the
convolutions of the ear, and a slight smell, like decayed cheese,
proceeding from it. A crackling sensation is then imparted to the fingers
when the base of the ear below the flap is manipulated; the necessary
pressure sometimes drawing forth an expression of pain. A worse case than
this I have not encountered; though how common canker has been in my
practice may be conjectured from my keeping a two-gallon stock-bottle of
the wash in my surgery, and a label, for the bottles in which it is sent
out, within my drawers. The mode of administering this wash is admirably
described by Youatt, from whose pages I transcribe it:--

"Some attention should be paid to the method of applying
these lotions. Two persons will be required in order to
accomplish the operation. The surgeon must hold the muzzle
of the dog with one hand, and have the root of the ear in
the hollow of the other, and between the first finger and
the thumb. The assistant must then pour the liquid into the
ear; half a tea-spoonful will usually be sufficient. The
surgeon, without quitting the dog, will then close the ear,
and mould it gently until the liquid has insinuated itself
as deeply as possible into the passages of the ear."

The warming of the fluid I find to be unnecessary; and there is something
to be added to the above direction, when the wash I advise is employed.
After one ear is done, let it be covered closely with the flap, and the
other side of the head turned upward without releasing the dog. When both
are finished, take a firm hold of the dog, and fling him away to any
distance the stren