THE SKIN 395 



NON-INFLAMMATORY DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 



675. Warts, Wens, or Angle- Berries, are abnormal growths, 

 or enlargements of the scales of the outer layer of the skin, of a non- 

 inflammatory character, and to which some breeds of animals are 

 predisposed. They usually occur on the soft thin parts of the skin, 

 such as the nose, sheath, thighs, etc.- Sometimes they are well defined, 

 with broad, thick necks deep through the skin, or are even encased in 

 a sheath, just like the kernel of a nut in the shell. In many cases 

 they become very troublesome, on account of their persistence, 

 growing again with great rapidity after it is thought that they have 

 been successfully removed. Pulling or twisting them off quickly 

 with the fingers usually answers best ; at other times, a pair of 

 strong scissors, knife, ecraseur, or hot iron may be used in their 

 removal. A dressing of green tar should be applied to the bare 

 surfaces the day subsequent to the removal of the warts. Warts and 

 tumours are often found on the penis of the horse and bull. These 

 are extremely troublesome, and when large interfere with the act of 

 urination, and in the bull especially with that of serving, after 

 which bleeding often occurs. Treatment. — In the horse, the penis 

 must be drawn out and washed with some antiseptic, nothing being 

 better than phenyle in the proportion of 1 to 80 of water ; 

 the offending growths removed with the knife or scissors, and 

 the wounds dressed with tincture of iron. It may be necessary 

 to cast the animal before operating. In the bull, the penis is 

 difficult to draw out even when the animal is cast. My method 

 of procedure is to allow the bull to raise himself on to a cow's back, 

 when, with a loop in a piece of broad tape held in my left hand, 

 the penis is seized and retained until the warty excrescences have 

 been clipped off, and the parts dressed with tincture of iron. These 

 growths occasionally involve the substance of the organ, and 

 then amputation has to be resorted to. The cow also suffers very 

 much from these excrescences, and as they materially affect the 

 health and thriving of the animal, they should be immediately 

 removed. 



