CANCER. 173 



of exhibiting various strata of morbid matter, the innermost of 

 which is the most condensed, there are seen, in the canine tumours 

 of this kind, appearances more resembling a collection of glands, 

 or of firm hydatids ; each of which exhibits on a section of it, a 

 distinct diseased process. Scirrhous indurations appear to arise 

 from the same causes that tend to the production of mange ; 

 namely? a superabundance of the secretions of some parts, the 

 effect of a general fulness of habit striving to relieve itself. These 

 tumours are, therefore, most frequent among dogs which are hotly 

 kept, over-fed, and suffer much confinement. 



Scirrhous mammce. — The lactiferous glands are very usually 

 the seat of scirrhous tumours, particularly among those bitches 

 who have not been allowed to breed ; especially when plethoric, 

 and when their exertions and their feeding bear no proportion to 

 each other. The origin of these tumours may be very frequently 

 dated from an inflammation in the mammae, from retained milk 

 when the pups have died ; or from the coagulating of that milk 

 which forms, by sympathy, about the period a bitch would have 

 pupped, provided she had been allowed to breed. A small nucleus, 

 or kernel, not larger often than a pea, is first felt within the gland, 

 which sometimes increases fast ; at others it enlarges very slowly, 

 appearing to give little uneasiness, until its weight makes it prove 

 troublesome. If the tumour is not dispersed in this state, sooner 

 or later, one or more small shinirfg vesicles form on its surface, 

 which ulcerating, ooze out an ichor or glairy fluid, but seldom 

 produce a healthy pus. The first opening often heals up, but 

 others follow ; and, in the end, two or three, or more, appear at 

 the same time, which, breaking in different parts, are soon licked 

 into one sore by the animal ; and although the ulceration does not 

 spread rapidly, or put on the virulence of human carcinomatous 

 ulcerations, it seldom heals afterwards, but, at length, wears down 

 the animal by the continued discharge. While the tumour is ex- 

 ternally whole, and is throughout indurated, without hydatid-like 

 vesicles, it may be, now and then, dispersed by the frequent ap- 

 plication of active discutients, as 



