152 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



thought by some to be caused by an injury. This 

 mass usually grows on the outside of the jaw bone 

 at first, but the healthy nutrition is soon destroyed 

 and the bone becomes diseased, sometimes loosen- 

 ing the teeth, which interferes with mastication, 

 and the animal pines away and dies from starva- 

 tion. In cutting into the tumor it is gristly, and 

 full of cavities filled with a yellowish red fluid. If 

 the animal rubs the skin off the tumor, which they 

 sometimes do, it becomes an angry looking sore, 

 with a little bloody matter oozing from it. The dis- 

 ease is not contagious. I have experimented for 

 a number of years and have always failed to pro- 

 duce the disease in another animal, even by inocu- 

 lation, and on that account it is doubtful if it is 

 caused by a parasite. 



Treatment: In the early stages of the disease 

 the majority of cases can be cured. Give the ani- 

 mal one dram of iodide of potassium morning and 

 evening in bran mash for three weeks. If the ani- 

 mal's eyes should get watery and considerable 

 saliva run from the mouth, stop for a few days 

 and begin again. Rub the lump once a week with 

 biniodide of mercury one dram, lard one ounce. 

 Continue this for several months, when the tumor 

 will gradually disappear. When the tumor has 

 become sore and matter is oozing from it little can 

 be done. Some few cases can be helped by rubbing 

 on a little bichloride of mercury every third day, 

 using no more at a time than would lie on a ten- 

 cent piece. This will act as a caustic and eat out 



