ENCYSTED TUMOURS. 329 



ENCYSTED TUMOURS. 



Other enlargements, oftenest encountered upon the 

 mammary glands, are encysted tumours. They are 

 composed of a cyst including a fluid of uncertain 

 character. An enormous tumour may sometimes be 

 composed of a single cyst, which may ulcerate, but the 

 fluid contents having escaped, the ulcer does not 

 become of a malignant nature. They are always dis- 

 tinguishable from the schirrous tumour by the greater 

 evenness of their surface, and by their not possessing 

 the peculiar unyielding character of the former, or 

 more malignant growth. 



Such tumour should be freely opened, leaving a 

 large, and certainly an ugly wound. This, however, 

 should be treated with the chloride of zinc wash, when 

 it generally closes, leaving no trace behind. 



The compound encysted tumour is more common 

 than the simple one. One cyst being formed, another 

 unites itself to it, or seems to grow upon it ; another 

 and another follow, until there is an accumulation of 

 cysts, and the growth becomes of an enormous bulk. 

 This species of tumour, when in consequence of its 

 weight it hangs down, or rubs against the ground, 

 occasionally ulcerates ; and the ulceration from the 

 repetition of the cause is constantly being soiled and 

 cannot heal. 



The ulceration does not open all the sacs, and there- 

 fore, although it causes agony to the animal, it in no 

 appreciable way decreases the magnitude of the en- 

 largement, which is only to be eradicated by the 

 fearless but skilful employment of the knife. 



