NASAL POLYPUS. 65 



to mistake the cartilaginous prolongation of the anterior 

 turbinated bone for a polypus, when he sees it spread upon 

 the false nostril, and enlarged and prominent from the 

 general thickening of the mucous coat ; nor the prolonga- 

 tion of the posterior turbinated bone, not quite so much de- 

 veloped; nor any rounded clot of blood which may have 

 escaped through the valve under the posterior turbinator, 

 and be retained there by the separated fibrine. This has 

 been done by men of some repute. 



Treatment. — The horse must be cast, and the head 

 fixed in a position to take the greatest advantage of the 

 light. The operator must then try to lay hold of the poly- 

 pus with his fingers or the forceps, or (for these tumours do 

 not possess much sensibility) with the tenaculum. If he can- 

 not fairly get at it by any of these means, he will let it alone. 

 It will continue to grow ; its membranous pedicle will be- 

 come lengthened, and the polypus will descend and be easily 

 got at. I do not know whether this polypus in horses — 

 like the one in men — is influenced by damp and dry weather, 

 so that on one day it is more prominent than on another. 



Operation. — In bringing down the tumour for opera- 

 tion we must not use any great force. The pedicle being 

 but a duplicature of skin, and not a portion of the polypus 

 itself, may be divided anywhere. Besides, force would 

 endanger the delicate gossamer fabric of the turbinated 

 bone. The tumour brought down, must have a ligature 

 passed round its pedicle, as high up as it can conveniently be 

 placed. If the polypus can then be returned to the nose, the 

 animal will suflPer very little inconvenience; and in a few 

 days it will slough off", and the pedicle will contract and 

 gradually disappear. If it cannot be returned, after applying 

 the ligature securely, we may excise it immediately, though 

 it would be better to wait a few hours first. Should bleeding 

 occur, the actual cautery may be resorted to. In very bad 

 cases it may be necessary to slit up the ala or side of the 

 nostril. The false nostril, however, had better not be cut 

 through ; it is so difficult to retain it afterwards for union. 

 The incision should be carried along the lateral edge of the 

 II. 5 



