This growth is sometimes met with in the nostril. It may or may not protrude externally, and when small, or situated high up, may be out of sight altogether. The nose is obstructed, and the ingress and egress of air more or less impeded. The polypus must be removed by ligature or other surgical means.

* The Pentostomum tenioides inhabiting the ethmoid cells, etc., may, by the irritation of its presence and movements, induce snorting and other symptoms referable to the nostrils. For farther information, consult the chapter on "Parasitic Diseases".

There is an excellent paper on this subject, by Dr Mercer, in the "Veterinarian" for 1844. As the subject is very fully treated of, and contains all that is at present known of practical importance, I cannot do better than transcribe the greatest part of the contribution to these pages.

"Polypoid tumours, as they are usually seen within the external meatus, may be the result of a morbid action in three situations: the first may arise from chronic inflammation of any of the tissues which enter into the formation of the meatus; the second may be connected with a similar state of the membrana tympani; and the third may be the result of chronic inflammation of the lining membrane of the walls of the tympanum, the cavity of which they first completely occupy, and afterwards, extending themselves along the external meatus, ultimately make their appearance at the entrance of this tube.

"Polypi produced from the tissues of the meatus may be divided into two kinds: -

"First, The soft vascular and bleeding polypus, usually produced from the fibro-cartilaginous structure of the outer half of the tube; and, secondly, the hard and cartilaginous polypus or excrescence produced from the lining membrane of its inner half.

"As to the first of these forms of polypi, the haematoid, that arise from the external soft structure of the tube, they may be situated in any part of its parietes, but most commonly at its superior and posterior surface. In form they are generally pedunculated; their surface is rough, irregular, and glistening, in consequence of being covered with a thin layer of mucus, which is often tinged with blood, especially when any degree of violence has been applied to the external ear, and which has also been exerted upon the tumour. When the tumour becomes protruded externally, it has a blood-red and pulpy appearance, and its sensibility is so great that any manipulation of the concha, so as to investigate the condition of the external meatus, is attended with great pain, and is also often followed with considerable haemorrhage.

"The second variety of polypus growth, the chondromatous, is that which is produced from the lining membrane of the inner half of the tube, the dermo-periosteum, and in its structure it differs somewhat from the former; it is more dense, and almost cartilaginous, and usually having a broad and more sessile base, occupies a greater extent of the parietes of the tube. Its surface is comparatively smooth, pale, and almost insensible to the touch; but according to the extent of the ulcerative process behind and within it, so will the nature and properties of the discharge be with which it is accompanied.

"Both these species of polypus of the meatus, the haematoid and chondromatous, are most commonly connected with, and accompanied by, ulceration of the softer tissues, or caries of the auditory process. These excrescences are usually situated externally to the seat of ulceration, being produced from the vascular margin of the ulcer; and so long as they are permitted to remain, the latter morbid condition, the canker of the ear, will be kept up for an indefinite period; hence, should the animal be of any value, it becomes a matter of considerable importance to arrive at an accurate diagnosis of the actual conditions of the diseased parts. The symptoms, therefore, which attend the existence of polypoid growths of the external meatus are very similar to those that indicate the chronic form of 'internal canker of the ear.' These are also preceded by those of general pyrexia, which usher in the local disease, such as general languor and lassitude, loss of appetite, considerable thirst, turning out of the coat, and balling of the faeces. As these constitutional and general symptoms diminish in severity, then those characteristic of the local disease become gradually and more manifestly evinced. The animal has a dull, heavy, and rather watery eye; he moans or whines at intervals; and if his master be present he feels a pleasure, a confidence, and a relief in pressing and rubbing his aching ear against any part of his master's body. Under other circumstances he presses it and harrows it against the ground so as to obtain a slight relief, and then with an instinctive feeling he flaps his ears and shakes his head rapidly and repeatedly, so as to keep up the pleasurable relief he thus obtains. Should the symptoms be not so severe as those which I have now mentioned, the animal may still be suspected, at a glance, to be labouring under acute disease of the ear by his running about with little intermission, his mouth open, and tongue protruded and panting, and with a stupid sensibility, shaking his head, and pointing the affected ear to the ground. These symptoms, however, are most commonly allowed to pass unheeded, and in a few days a partial relief is obtained to the animal by the sudden and profuse discharge of a quantity of foetid pus. From this time the general and constitutional symptoms disappear, and those indicative of the local affection are alone predominant. The local discharge of pus, or pus and blood, becomes daily more and more foetid, in consequence of the extension of the disease to the bony tissue of the meatus, and the poor animal is thrust aside as an object of loathing and disgust. Should the dog, in the earlier stage of the disease, be muzzled and cast, and an inspection of the meatus be had recourse to, then there will either be found a phlegmonous abscess of the cellulo-fibrous structure of the meatus, circumscribed dermo-periostitis of the inner part of the tube, with caries of the osseous portion, or internal muco-tympanitis, with perforation of the membrana tympani, and evacuation of the matter along the external canal.

"In that form of the disease to which I specially refer, where a polypoid excrescence follows and accompanies the ulceration or caries, if a period of three weeks or a month be allowed to elapse between the first exhibition of the discharge and the examination of the meatus, it may be found that the vegetation has attained a considerable size, and the discharge has become more and more profuse and bloody. The extent of bloody discharge, and its foetidity, will much depend on the nature of the tumour, and the original tissue of the meatus that may be affected. If there is much blood mixed up with the discharge, then in all likelihood there will exist a soft and vascular polypus, produced from the more vital fibro-carti-laginous structures of the meatus; and should the smell be excessive, and the discharge little tinged with blood, then the original disease will be found to exist in the osseous portion of the tube, and the polypus, if it does exist, will be of the chondroma-tous or cartilaginous kind."

Treatment

The growths should be removed by operation, and any disease of the meatus that may co-exist should be treated as for internal canker.