ABLATION OF TUMORS. 211 



But presently it becomes cooler, the skin becomes soft, flabby, 

 and of a dark brownish color ; the mass becomes dry and con- 

 tracted, and in from fifteen to twenty days it drops off, leaving a 

 wound which heals in the usual manner. 



The use of this Hgature is, we believe, principally advantage- 

 ous for small growths, and we have obtained good results from it 

 in the castration of medium or small-sized animals, as weU as in the 

 treatment of small and superficial tumors, as warts, and the like. 

 But in respect to large growths, such as the fibromas of the elbow 

 joint, from the enormous size of the wovmd which follows, and 

 the excessive length of time this requires to heal, we cannot feel 

 justified in recommendiag it ia similar cases. 



4th. — Removal by Tearing. 



This is a method of extirpating tumors by mere force, grasp- 

 ing them with one hand or with the forceps, and with the other 

 they are simply — with a twisting motion — torn from their connec- 

 tion. Of course it can only be practiced on small growths, but it 

 has the advantage of preventing hemorrhage, and can be performed 

 with the hands alone, or Avith the assistance of special forcej^s or 

 nippers. The princii^al objection is that it sometimes fails to 

 remove the fundamental element of the growth, and a renewal 

 of the trouble may be looked for. 



5th. — Puncture. 

 This subject has already been partially considered. It is per- 

 formed with either the bistoury, the lancet, or the trocai", but it 

 is princiiDally appHcable to soft tumors only, and as by its un- 

 aided action it is ordinarily insufficient to effect their complete 

 disappearance, it becomes necessary to resort to instrumental help, 

 in which cauterization with the pointed red iron, blistering applica- 

 tions, or the injection of irritating or modifying compounds, as 

 solution of tincture of iodine, become the efficient adjuncts, if not 

 in truth the actual cm-atives. 



