CANCER OF THE TAIL — GENERALISATION AFTER ABLATION. 427 



The cutaneous and mucous integuments were separated with a 

 bistoury throughout the entire length of the tear for a width of half an 

 inch. Haemorrhage having ceased, the weeping surfaces were freed of 

 the small clots which covered them and thoroughly dried. They were 

 then united by a double suture, which, although passing through the 

 skin alone, produced accurate coaptation of the internal surfaces 

 (see figure). The first series of sutures consisted of thick silk inserted in 

 the form of loops, the ends of which were separated and emerged about 

 three eighths of an inch from the cutaneous margins of the wound. 

 The second series consisted of ordinary interrupted sutures of fine silk. 

 The object of this second series was to bring the margins of the 

 integument into accurate contact. The vaginal wound was dusted 

 with iodoform ; the cutaneous wound touched with carbolic solution, 

 powdered with iodoform, and covered with a strip of taffeta. 



On the 28th the parts were again dressed with iodoform and a fresh 

 strip of taffeta. During the following days this treatment was con- 

 tinued. There was no suppuration. 



On the 3rd November the sutures were removed ; union was 

 complete except in the upper part of the wound, where several of the 

 deep sutures had torn away. As a precaution dressing with iodoform 

 and taffeta was continued for several days afterwards. On the 24th 

 the animal was cast and the upper margins of the wound were again 

 operated on. The preparation and dressing were similar to those in 

 the first instance. 



On the 25th the taffeta had become loose, and was replaced by iodo- 

 form collodion applied night and morning until the 30th. Union was 

 obtained without suppuration. The sutures were removed on the ist 

 December. The animal left hospital on the 6th December. 



CANCER OF THE TAIL— GENERALISATION AFTER ABLATION. 



137. A nine-year-old bay-brown gelding, suffering from tumours of 

 the tail, left in hospital on the nth May, i8g6, for removal of the new 

 growths. 



The lower surface of the tail, a hand's breadth from its base, 

 showed two sessile growths as large as a walnut, with firm, reddish, 

 excoriated surfaces ; a little in advance, but also on the inferior 

 surface, was another growth, the size of a hazel nut, and behind were 

 three growths the size of a pea, around which the skin was thickened. 

 The tail was swollen. These tumours interfered with the application 

 of the crupper, and were often injured by it. 



Ablation was performed in the standing position, the hind limbs 

 alone being hobbled. The growths were removed level with the skin 

 by a single stroke of the knife. The cut surface was curetted, and 

 afterwards touched with the thermo-cautery. In excising one of the 

 two larger tumours the animal struggled violently, and the entire 

 thickness of the skin was divided for a distance of one and a half 

 inches ; haemorrhage was checked with the hot iron. 



The parts were covered with a cotton-wool dressing, renewed every 

 five days for a period of a fortnight, the wounds being dressed with 30 



