220 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



each of which a careful distinction must be made. Sarcoma 

 is the commonest variety, and, on account of its mahgnanc}-, 

 it is questionable whether the most humane plan when this 

 tumour is discovered, even if no others are in sight, is 

 not to destroy the patient painlessl)- before consciousness 

 returns. Sometimes the li\er will be almost entirely 

 destroyed by tumour tissue, as shown in the illustration 

 (Fig. 143). 



The Spleen. 



Occasionally large tumours are met with in the spleen, and 

 during external \iolence it ma\' be badh' ruptured, and fatal 

 hsemorrhage ensue if it is left. A certain diagnosis can onlv 

 be made by laparotom}' and internal obser\'ation. Removal 

 of the whole of the organ is alwa3's a serious operation, both 

 at the time and as regards its sequel, death from marasmus 

 often following within twehe months. 



Mr. Martj-n Jordan has, however, shown by an experi- 

 mental research into the effects of partial excision upon 

 healthy dogs that excellent results can be obtained. 



The chief untoward results to be looked for at the time of 

 operating are those of death from haemorrhage or shock ; the 

 former must be guarded against h\ careful clamping and 

 ligaturing of every vessel along the splenic omentum or 

 those which suppl)- the portion to be excised, and to avoid 

 the latter the operation should be performed as rapidl}' as 

 possible, hypodermic injections of stimulants being at hand 

 for immediate use if required. 



Operation — Splenectomy. — For extirpation of the whole 

 organ, the patient is prepared, secured, and operated upon 

 as in an ordinary laparotom}' (see p. 158), the incision being 

 made on or near to the median line, about an inch behind 

 the sternum. The spleen is then sought for and brought as 

 much out of the orifice as necessary', each vessel, however 

 small, being clamped or ligatured in two places before being 

 cut through, after w hich the organ is removed. 



