TUMORS AFFECTING CATTLE. 321 



the tumor has a small constricted base, remove by torsion, ligation, or 

 with an ecraseur. Ligation following the incision of the skin with a 

 knife avoids the pain of pressing on the sensitive nerves of the skin 

 and is suitable for tumors of broad base and small bodies. A firing 

 iron, such as is used in line or feather firing, may also be used in 

 removing tumors with small attachments. This not only stops the 

 bleeding but forms a firm scab, under which healing may occur 

 rapidly. Those tumors that can not be removed by the above methods 

 may be treated with caustics or acids, such as sulphuric acid, hydro- 

 chloric acid, caustic potash, arsenic, silver nitrate, or chromic acid, 

 but it is difficult to limit the action of these drugs. The injection 

 into the tumor of certain chemicals, such as aniline dyes, alcohol, 

 acetic acid, citric acid, or ergotine, is of doubtful value, as is also the 

 injection of the germs of erysipelas — thought by some to be a specific. 

 Certain specific tumors, such as actinomycosis and botryomycosis, may 

 be successfully treated by the internal administration of potassium 

 iodid, together with the injection into the tumor or the painting of 

 its surface with Lugol's solution or the tincture of iodin. The most 

 reliable means of treating tumors is by extirpation with cutting in- 

 struments. Dissect the tumor from the surrounding tissue, ligating 

 all the larger blood vessels, and tearing the tissues with the fingers 

 rather than cutting with a knife. The bleeding may be stopped with 

 a hot iron. The aftertreatment is the same as for any ordinary 

 wound of similar size. 



I>ESCR1PTI0N OF INDIVIDUAL TUMORS. 



Although a full list of the tumors that may be found in bovines has 

 been given above, there are a numl)er that warrant a detailed descrip- 

 tion, and the following mention will be made of the most important 

 of them : 



These ti^mors are after the type of muscle. They are sharply cir- 

 cumscribed, and, as a rule, are very hard, a condition due usually to 

 combination with fibroma, and are then known as fibromyoma. In 

 fact, the clinical differentiation between myoma and fibroma is almost 

 impossible. Myomas are found in the uterus, vagina, stomach, intes- 

 tines, gullet, and bladder of cattle. They grow very large, but, as a 

 rule, are benign. Treatment should consist of their removal. 



NEUEOFIBBOMA. 



A true neuroma built up of nerve fibers and nerve cells is infre- 

 quent, if it ever occurs, in cattle. False neuromas, or neurofibromas, 

 are knotty spreading tumors of the size of a large potato, which are 

 developed within the nerve sheaths and composed of nerve fibers and 

 16923°— 12 21 



