104 DISEASES OF THE MOUTH 



rior part of the neck, appearing as a soft fluctuating enlarge- 

 ment. There is an absence of inflammatory symptoms and 

 the skin is not' adherent over it. These cysts develop slowly 

 in contrast to a rapidly developing hematoma; the skin is 

 adherent in the latter. The contents of the cysts can be 

 obtained by the use of a large aspirating needle or trocar 

 and examined. The fluid which flows out very slowly is a 

 thick, viscid, honey-like material which makes the diagnosis 

 positive. 



Treatment.— Surgical.— Complete removal of the cyst is 

 hardly possible by excision, as the glandular secretion con- 

 tinues, and when adhesion of the edges of the wound takes 

 place, another cyst will develop. The most satisfactory 

 treatment consists in aspirating all of the contents and the 

 injection of Lugol's solution or tincture of iodin to destroy 

 the cyst wall and the secreting gland. The injection should 

 be sufficient to distend the cyst so that some of it will be 

 forced to gravitate into the gland to destroy it. This should 

 be done every second or third day. As soon as the gland 

 is destroyed, the secretions will stop, the gland will atrophy 

 and the enlargement disappear. This usually takes place in 

 three to four weeks. 



MALIGNANT NEOPLASMS OF THE MOUTH. 



EpitheUomata.— These tumors appear most commonly on 

 the margin of the lips, involving the mucous membrane, 

 subcutaneous tissue, muscles and skin. They occur most 

 often in old animals. 



Symptoms.— In the beginning they are observed as small 

 flat growths, which later have a tendency to show ulceration 

 on the surface. The surface has a roughened, granulating 

 appearance often covered with a thin dried mass. It grad- 

 ually develops in size until it invades the entire lip and occa- 

 sionally the maxillae. Secondary enlargement of the cervical 

 and submaxillary lymph glands is of common occurrence. 

 Epitheliomata are diagnosed clinically by their rapid, pro- 

 gressive growth, roughened irregular surface and invasion 



