KOTHRYOMYCOSIS. 



479 



The upper part, which was easy to separate from adjacent tissues, 

 was first removed ; the lower, which extended more deeply and sur- 

 rounded the jugular and carotid, could not be entirely ablated. 

 Operation was attended by considerable haemorrhage, which was con- 

 trolled by forceps. The portion of the tumour surrounding the vessels 

 was left in position. After inserting a drainage-tube the lips of the 

 wound were brought together by a few deep and several superficial 

 sutures, and the parts were covered with a cotton-wool dressing. 



In spite of precautions taken to prevent the animal rubbing, it soon 

 displaced the dressing and tore 



out most of the sutures. Being ^^ 



very irritable, we were obliged to 

 leave the wound open and treat it 

 antiseptically. Nevertheless the 

 animal was able to leave hospital 

 on the 20th, the final result of 

 operation having been highly 

 satisfactory. 



Remark. — The administration 

 of potassium iodide in the treat- 

 ment of bothryomycosis is of slight 

 value. I have used it in twenty- 

 four cases (horses), sixteen suffer- 

 ing from scirrhous cord, and eight 

 from bothryomycotic growths in 

 different regions : — one in front of 

 the chest ; two on the neck ; one 

 on the tail ; one on the side of 

 the chest ; one on the hock ; and 

 two on the fetlock. The average 

 duration of treatment was three 

 weeks, and the average dose of 

 potassium iodide from six to eight 

 ounces. In certain of these pa- 

 tients the treatment was only con- 

 tinued for a fortnight ; in others 

 it was prolonged, with intervals, 

 for six weeks, two months, and 

 even longer. In 1897 I treated a 

 horse with bothryomycosis of the 

 hock (Fig. 64) for more than four 

 months, giving during that time 

 more than twenty ounces of po- 

 tassium iodide without producing 

 any appreciable result. 



In three animals with recent 

 scirrhous cord the swelling diminished with considerable rapidity, and 

 finally disappeared ; but all practitioners know that cases of recent 

 inflammation of the cord often recover with ordinary local antiseptic 

 treatment. In a horse with a bothryomycotic patch on the wall of the 



Fig. 64. — Bothryomycosis of the hock. 



