A CASK OF SARCOMATOUS DISKASK. II3 



You must not, however, hastily conclude that all generalised or 

 localised dermic or hypodermic tumours, whether distributed irregu- 

 larly or systematically, are necessarily sarcomata. Tuberculosis may 

 produce similar growths. I have given you an example. Other new 

 growths may also behave in the same way. In the horse and dog 

 several cases of fibromatosis have been reported. 



Some years ago I saw a bitch affected with numerous fibrous 

 tumours in and below the skin, but confined exclusively to the ex- 

 tremities. Some months before a few little tumours had appeared on 

 the head and limbs, had increased in size, and been followed by 

 others. At the first glance one's attention was attracted to an irregular 

 flattened tumour the size of a five-shilling piece on the free portion of 

 the right ear, the centre of which was excoriated and bleeding. The 

 left ear, nose, cheek, tail, and all four limbs showed other new 

 growths in the skin and subcutaneous tissue. On the limbs at least 

 100 could be counted. None were seen about the trunk or neck. 



Except that on the right ear, all the tumours exhibited nearly the 

 same characters. They appeared as little flattened, rounded, firm, 

 slightly prominent, insensitive patches. Sections were hard, white, 

 and dry, no liquid exuding even on pressure. Under the microscope 

 they showed the histological characters of fasciculated fibromata. 



Palpation, percussion, and auscultation revealed nothing abnormal 

 in the abdominal and thoracic organs. The urine was albuminous. 

 Examination of the blood showed it to be healthy. 



I kept this patient for a time. At first it remained in good condi- 

 tion, eating well, and not appearing to suffer in any way. Later it 

 became dull, lost its appetite, had attacks of vomiting, suffered from 

 diarrhoea, rapidly lost strength, and died in very thin condition. At 

 the post-inorteui examination we found cystic degeneration of both 

 kidneys ; there was no new growth in the viscera, or in the different 

 tissues. 



The tumours were exclusively confined to the skin and connective 

 tissue of the extremities, head, limbs, and tail. 



For several weeks both patients received iodine and arsenious 

 preparations given alternately. No improvement followed. I have 

 often tried these drugs in other animals — horses and dogs — affected 

 with various new growths, and in several cases of lymphadenoma ; but 

 always with the same want of success. 



