428 BENIGN TUMOURS. 



by continuity of tissue, at other times loosely imbedded in them, 

 and easily moveable beneath the skin. Although many groups 

 of several tumours in each may exist in the same structure or 

 organ, it is very rare to see them co-existent in separate organs. 

 They have very few vessels ; indeed, some seem to have no 

 blood-vessels, and no immediate communication with the sur- 

 rounding parts, but are lodged in a sac, and derive their nourish- 

 ment by imbibing nutrient Huid from its walls. 



The tumours are composed of white fibrous tissue, blended with 

 some yellow elastic fibres, closely resembling those of areolar tissue. 

 These fibres vary in their different stages of development, and are 

 interlaced together, forming very compact and solid masses. At 

 first the tumours are quite unattached to the skin, but as they 

 grow they burst through and become attached to it ; and from their 

 points of attachment prolongations, in the form of fungoid 

 granulations, rapidly grow from the surface. Their favourite 

 seat is the subcutaneous areolar tissue of the inferior surface of 

 the abdomen, where they are generally found associated with 

 the epidermic wart. When the skin is cut through, it is often 

 discovered that a large number of them, in a nest of condensed 

 fibrous tissue, on which numerous blood-vessels ramify, are 

 lodged in the areolar tissue of this part. They are then easily 

 pressed out by the hand, and this is the best method of remov- 

 ing them, the sac being afterwards dressed with some astringent, 

 such as a solution of sulphate of copper. They are also found 

 in the uterus, more especially of the bitch, where they some- 

 times contain a fluid in their centre. 



Polypi belong to the fibrous tumours, consisting of tissue 

 similar to that of the last-named form. The tumour sketched 

 in Photo-lithograph, Plate IV., is an example of a very large 

 nasal polypus. 



A polypus may be defined to be a tumour attached by means 

 of a narrow pedicle, and the most familiar example is the nasal 

 polypus attached to the superior part of the nostril ; of a softish 

 consistence; bleeding when injured; often containing a thin 

 limpid fluid in its centre; growing downwards, filling the 

 cavity of the nostril, causing much uneasiness to the animal, 

 and interfering very materially with the respiratory func- 

 tion. 



There is a discharge from the affected nostril, often tinged 



