DISEASES OF CATTLE 415 



short, fleshy excrescences, giving the growth the appearance of gran- 

 ulation tissue. Their color is red or purplish, and oftentimes by 

 friction they become raw and bleeding, emitting then a very of- 

 fensive odor. They usually grow in clusters and their development 

 is rapid. 



Causes. An abnormal nutrition of the skin, determined by in- 

 creased energy of growth operating upon a healthy skin; at other 

 times, upon a weak or impoverished skin. 



Treatment. When they are small and pedunculated they may 

 be snipped off with the shears, and the stump touched with nitrate 

 of silver. When they are broad and flattened they can be dissected 

 out, and the wound cauterized, if necessary. If they are large and 

 very vascular, they may be ligated, one by one, by taking a strong 

 cord and tyin^ it as firmly around the base as possible. They will 

 then shrivel, die, and drop off. If there is a tendency to grow again, 

 apply a red-hot iron, or nitric acid with a glass rod. Very often 

 warts will quickly disappear if they are kept soft by. daily applica- 

 tions of sweet or olive oil. 



KELIS. 



Kelis is an irregularly shaped flat tumor of the skin, resulting 

 from hypertrophy increased growth of the fibrous tissue of the 

 corium, producing absorption of the papillary layer. 



Causes. It may arise spontaneously, or follow a scar after an 

 injury. 



Symptoms. Kelis generally appears below the knee or hock. 

 It may occur singly or in numbers. There are no constitutional 

 symptoms. Its growth is very slow and seldom causes any incon- 

 venience. It appears as a flattened, irregular, or spreading growth 

 within the substance of the skin, is hard to the touch, and is es- 

 pecially characterized by divergent branches or roots, resembling the 

 claws of a crab, and hence the name. Occasionally some part of it 

 may soften and result in an abscess. It may grow several inches in 

 length and encircle the whole limb. 



Treatment. So long as it causes the animal no inconvenience 

 it is best not to meddle with it ; when it does, the animal ought to be 

 fattened for beef, the meat being perfectly harmless to the con- 

 sumer. 



PARASITIC DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 



MANGE, ITCH, SCAB. 



[See discussion in chapter on "The animal parasites of cattle."] 



LOUSINESS. 



[See discussion of lice in chapter on "The animal parasites of 



cattle."] 



WARBLES, OR GRUB IN THE SKIN. 



[See discussion in chapter on "The animal parasites of cattle."] 



BUFFALO GNATS. 



[See discussion of these parasites in chapter on "The animal 

 parasites of cattle."] 



