120 DEXTAL CYSTS. 



by Monsieur Lafosse and published in the ^^ Journal 

 des Veterinaire da Midi:" 



" M. Lafosse, Professor of Clinical Medicine in the 

 Veterinary School of Toulouse, had under his treat- 

 ment a four-year-old maro that for two months before 

 admission into the iniirmary was affected with a phleg- 

 monous tumor in the reo'ion of the left ear. This was 

 opened. The wound that resulted rapidly contracted, 

 but a fistula remained. When Lafosse first saw the 

 case, he found a painful tumor, with a granulating 

 "wound just behind the scutiform cartilage, and near 

 the upper part of the parotid gland. By probing he 

 ascertained that at the bottom of the fistulous tract 

 w::s some hard substance, which he supposed to be the 

 scutiform cartilage in an ossified state, or a portion of 

 the temporal bone exfoliating. A severe operation 

 was performed, and the solid substance extracted. It 

 w^as double, deeply seated, and firmly adherent to sur- 

 rounding textures. Slight hemorrhage ensued from 

 the division of the anterior auricular, but was easily 

 stopped. The wound was dressed, and the animal 

 soon recovered, having shown only a few symptoms of 

 sore throat after the operation. 



"I shall not translate M. Lafosso's description of 

 the products he extracted. They were composed of 

 tooth-substance, and although it has been questioned 

 whether it is real tooth that is developed in the shape 

 of accidental growths in the region of the ear, still the 

 fact is now well established, however puzzling to the 

 minds of some it may be to compreliend their origin. 



" Lafosse attempts a teratological explanation, but 

 asks: 'If teeth arc looked on as arising from the tcgu- 

 mentary system, considering them in most animals as 



