General Diseases. 293 



advisable treatment, except when the deposit takes place 

 in situations other than the mammary gland, and where 

 it would be impossible, with safety, to use the knife. 

 Counter-irritation, or the daily application of iodine, would 

 then be indicated, but absorption in such cases is hopeless. 



Osseous Tumours. — These are of comparatively rare 

 ■occurrence in the dog. When seen, they are usually found 

 in connection with the limbs, more especially about the 

 hocks and knees,* and are generally associated with the 

 disease called " rickets," for the treatment of which see 

 " Rickets." 



Melanotic Tumour. — Melanosis is, I believe, an unre- 

 corded, if not almost an unknown, disease in the dog. To 

 Mr. Fleming I am indebted for the following particulars of 

 an interesting case which came under his own notice : 



" A large, black, well-bred setter was brought to me for 

 advice, with regard to a swelling on the back part of his 

 fore-leg. The skin was very much thickened from the 

 elbow to near the carpus, and destitute of hair. The en- 



* At the present time I have a patient, a mastiff, under my care, 

 with an enormous osseous tumour of honeycomb or cancellated struc- 

 ture, surrounding the lower end of the radius. Though the knee-joint 

 is not involved, yet the foot is comparatively useless, being greatly 

 swollen, benumbed, and dangling, owing to the pressure by the tumour 

 on the structures above. The friction of, or injury by, the chain, is sup- 

 posed to have been the original cause of the disease. Prior to my ad- 

 vice being sought, it had been under the treatment of other veterinary 

 surgeons, without any successful results. For the first ten days I had 

 applied, externally, absorbents and hot fomentations ; in the softest 

 portions I lanced it, and there was discharged from the two openings 

 made, a thin bloody fluid, not offensive, and containing no pus. The 

 probe came in contact everywhere with rough, spongy bone. The 

 fomentations are continued, with an occasional injection of a strong 

 solution of nitrate of silver. Iron and iodine are administered twice 

 daily, and the food is of a substantial nature. The poor creature is 

 much emaciated, but is now slightly improving, and the pain and 

 swelling have abated. An entire removal of the deposit is, of course, 

 out of the question, but I have good hopes of prolonging the animal's 

 life, and rendering him useful. 



