Diseases of the Mammary Gland. 179 
it. Occasionally its base is attached by more vital struc- 
tures, and hemorrhage will follow its removal. In such a 
case, either the ligature may be adopted before severing 
the mass, or the vessels afterwards taken up and tied, or 
the actual cautery applied. The latter is sometimes used 
for separating a vascu.ar base. 
The superficial bleeding which occasionally takes place 
more or less all round it, when more closely connected to 
the skin, is usually harmless, and is readily stayed by the 
application of the tincture of iron. 
The edges of the incised skin are to be brought in appo- 
sition, with interrupted silk sutures, steeped in a weak solu- 
tion of carbolic acid. Healing generally takes place 
quickly, and the loose, hanging pouch of skin contracts to 
the level of the surrounding parts. 
It is always advisable to wire-muzzle the patient after 
the operation ; for the tongue, although a great healer, 
often does considerable mischief, and the teeth will speedily 
remove stitches and ligatures. 
The after treatment consists in daily cleansing the wound 
from discharge, attention to the bowels, a plain, unstimula- 
ting diet, and tonics if there is much prostration, 
