CHAP. II.] TUMOURS, DEFINED. 307 



to the surface, after long-protracted illness, the 

 patient is usually so exhausted, and the parts adja- 

 cent rendered so unfit to re-unite, that the consti- 

 tution runs off at the orifice ; in this case, life is sel- 

 dom preserved, health never completely restored. 



Tumours sometimes appear of tolerably large 

 size, that become indolent, i. e. without feeling, and 

 are moveable with the skin. These are caused by 

 the same evil state of the blood, or its vessels, and 

 the inflammation or irritation having ceased at some 

 time or other, the enlargement remains, though 

 the connexion with the arterial system has long 

 ceased. Although very unsightly, the animal feels 

 little inconvenience from those protuberances : they 

 receive the name of wens and may be taken off by 

 dividing the skin, and pressing out the wen. It is 

 then to be drawn forth with the forceps, usually ac- 

 companied by a long string, the old-school men 

 termed a nerve, and the healing of the wound is 

 performed by strapping down the skin with adhesive 

 plaster ; the cure is thus said to be effected by the 

 first intention. The usual precautions of taking 

 away the hair, and afterwards keeping the patient's 

 head up for a few days, would of course be adopted. 



The genuine tumour is soft and tender, and is 

 contained in a membranous sac, or cyst, that has 

 been likened to the finger of a glove, or to many of 

 them, when it acquires the distinctive name of fis- 

 tula. The case, or cyst, having been formed by 

 the disorder, and matured by heat, acquires strength 

 the longer it is suffered to continue unopposed, 



