CANCEROUS ULCERS. 123 



Fractures of the leg sometimes occur ; they have ^^^^ 



treated by bandaging the parts, and Iceeping the inimal quiet. 



The leg too has even been amputated with success, a wooden leg 

 being afterwards substituted. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



CANCEROUS ULCERS. 



There seems to be a natural disposition in cattle to the formation 

 of tumours on various parts of the body. They are mostly found in 

 the neighbourhood of joints, and generally either hanging loose, or 

 slightly adhering to tlie j)arts beneath. They sometimes grow to an 

 excessive size. In some cases they are evidently constitutional, for 

 many of them appear on different parts. They do not seem to give 

 much pain to the animal, and occasionally they continue month after 

 month witliout being of any serious inconvenience : they then suddenly 

 break, and a malignant ulcer ensues, which speedily degenerates into 

 a cancerous one. 



The tumours are sometimes smaller, and fixed to the parts beneath 

 by a broad base, and which are chiefly found about the face, on the 

 cheeks, or under the eyelids, or in the channel between the jaws. 

 These are more likely to break than the others, and when they break 

 are far less manageable. The fluid that is discharged from them is 

 thin and excoriating, and the wounds are covered with proud flesh, 

 springing again as quickly as it is removed. If they are attacked 

 before they break they will generally be got rid of. 



As an external application nothing is superior to the Iodine Oint- 

 ment, (No. 25, p. 69). 



At the same time a drachm of the tincture of iodine may be given 

 in a little gruel morning and night, at or soon after the time of feed- 

 ing; or the Hydriodate of Potash, beginning with four grains morn- 

 ing and night, and gradually increasing the dose to twelve grains. 

 This preparation of iodine is preferable to the tincture; but the inter- 

 nal and the external use of tiie iodine must be continued at least three 

 or four weeks, before any decisive benefit will be obtained. The 

 tumours will frequently disappear altogether ; but the ointment and 

 tincture must he used for at least a month before any decisive good 

 can be expected. 



If the tumours at the end of that time should not be evidently 

 diminishing, the veterinary surgeon should begin to think about 

 removing them with the knife. They are seldom fed by any very 

 considerable vessel, and may usually be taken away without the 

 slightest danger. It will however be prudent to give the tincture of 

 iodine for three weeks or a month after the operation, in order to re- 

 move the constitutional tendency to a return of the tumours. 

 II 



