DOGS : THEIR MANAGEMENT. 453 



in each joint, is situated a Lursa or small sac, containing 

 an unctuous fluid intended to facilitate the movement of 

 the bone under the skin, they both are subject to injury ; 

 when they swell to an enormous size, and constitute a 

 very unsightly deformity. If seen early, so soon as the 

 tenderness has subsided, an ounce of lard may be mixed 

 with a drachm of the iodide of lead, and the part well 

 and frequently rubbed with the ointment. If in spite of 

 the use of this ointment, which more often fails than suc- 

 ceeds, the tumor grows larger and larger, recourse must 

 be had to an operation ; else the disfigurement may ulti- 

 mately become sufficiently great and hard to seriously 

 impede the animal's movements. 



An operation being determined on, the animal is best 

 left standing ; though, should it prove unruly, assistance 

 sufficient to lift it on to a table, and thereon to lay it on 

 its side, must be at hand. Everything being ready, and 

 the dog in this case properly muzzled, the operator, with 

 such a knife as he can work quickest with, makes an in- 

 cision the entire length of the swelling, and even rather 

 longer than shorter : he next reflects back both portions 

 of skin, that is, the skin on either side of the swelling ; 

 and lastly, separates the enlargement from its base. 



This removal will leave a huge, ugly, gaping wound, 

 with a seeming superabundance of skin hanging from 

 its side. Let him on no account remove a particle of 

 that skin, however much more than is necessary pro- 

 perly to cover the wound there may immediately after 

 the operation seem to be. Inflammation will, with the 



