SURGICAL DISEASES. 451 



CANCER. 



Cancer is a malignant disease ; tliat is, it is incapable of a 

 cure by tlie natural powers, and must be eradicated either by 

 the knife or by caustic. It is, however, ver}'' doubtful whether 

 by their means the disease is checked for any length of time, 

 generally returning afterwards in the course of a few months. 

 The disease may be known in the early stage by the appearance 

 of a hard lump, varying in size from that of a filbert to a large 

 walnut or common egg, with an irregular " knotty " feel and a 

 strange hardness. In process of time this enlarges, and the skin 

 adheres to it, by and by ulcerating, and a red fungous growth 

 making its appearance. There are various forms in which the 

 open cancer shows itself, sometimes red and smooth, at others 

 very " knotty " and purple, while a third variety resembles curdy 

 matter mixed with streaks of blood. The most common seats of 

 cancer in the dog are, the teats or womb in the bitch, and the 

 penis in the dog. I have several times seen a cancerous condition 

 of the womb and vagina cause such constant irritation that the 

 bitch always appeared to be at heat, and would take the dog at 

 any time, but without breeding, to the great astonishment and 

 annoyance of the owner, who is unable to account for this re- 

 peated " heat," as he considers it. A cancer is incurable ; the 

 knife is the only remedy, but it should be used by hands ac- 

 customed to operations, and practice with previous demonstrations 



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