358 DISEASES OF THE MUSCLES 



.'Isolation. Sometimes it is necessary to open the tumor and to curette the 

 inside of the sac to get it to heal properly. If the tumor still remains, 

 it should be removed by complete extirpation of the enlargement. The 

 operation is not particularl}^ difficult, the only thing to contend against 

 is that some animals by extreme flexion of the elbow are apt to burst the 

 stitches. The operator must first shave off all the hair in the immediate 

 region of the tumor, thoroughly disinfect it and make a long incision in 

 a longitudinal direction through the skin over the body of the tumor, 

 taking care not to penetrate into the body of the tumor. The tumor is 

 now carefully dissected out and the inside of the wound carefully washed 

 with an astringent solution, such as lead or zinc, and having cjeaned out 

 the blood clots, the freshly cut surface should be carefully touched with 

 a pledget of cotton soaked in pure carbolic acid; this application tends to 

 lessen slow hemorrhage and frequently heals the wound very quickly. 

 The edges of the opening are then united by sutures. In dissecting out 

 the tumor, care must be taken not to remove the periosteum of the ulna. 

 A l^andage should l^e applied if possible: it is, however, very difficult to 

 hold it in position. The animal should rest on deep straw or some other 

 elastic material. 



