132 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



the fox-terriers there was no result, and it was surmised that possibly the 

 first attack had conferred some degree of immunit)-. 



In another observation a typically natural wart was excised with sterile 

 instruments from the tongue of a fox-terrier, and rubbed gently on a 

 small area of abraded mucous membrane on the upper lip of a retriever 

 pup and on the lower lip of the previously mentioned bull-terrier. On 

 October 7 a warty growth w as visible on the retriever's lip, but no growth 

 formed on the lower lip of the previously infected bull-terrier. 



In a further series a piece of the warty growth was excised from the 

 retriever puppy, and applied gently to an abraded portion of mucous mem- 

 brane on the upper lip of an adult retriever dog and of a sheep dog respec- 

 tively. Six weeks later there was a perceptible growth on the lip of each 

 dog ; these passed through the usual course and finally disappeared. 



These experiments conclusively proved that the common papillomata 

 of the dog's mouth are transmissible, and they support the clinical 

 evidence in favour of contagion being the common cause of such growths. 

 They also show that without any treatment whatever such papillomata 

 may disappear by a process of gradual shrinking and absorption, and 

 they suggest the thought that the credit claimed for some methods of 

 treatment may be undeserved. Lastly, the experiments indicate that 

 after disappearance of a first crop of papillomata the animal is left in a 

 measure protected against a second infection of the same kind. 



A saturated solution of tannic acid applied two or three 

 times a day for several consecutive days sometimes obviates 

 entirel)' auA' surgical interference ; medicinal means are always 

 worth a trial, especiall)- in those cases in which there are a 

 large number of the tumours. Complete disappearance will 

 sometimes follow the use of liquor arsenicalis and salicj-lic 

 acid (or salicylate of soda) internall}- in full medicinal dpses, 

 this being given regularl)- and persistently for about a month 

 or six weeks. 



Operation. — In cases \\'here only one or t\\-o warts are 

 present, the best plan is to remo^•e them by a silk ligature, 

 i.\-hich is applied to the base and left in situ for three days. 

 The knife or scissors may be used, but there is always the 

 danger that the blood \\'hich follows maj- infect a fresh spot. 

 Where there are a large number, if drugs have failed, 

 they must be ligatured in batches at the discretion of the 

 operator. A small electric or benzine cauter)- is also \'er)' 

 useful for those whose pedicle can be reached. 



