238 TUMORS. 
It was not malignant. The horse which carried about this burden was 
brought to the veterinary college during the time when the author was 
attached to that establishment. The animal had previously been under 
the treatment of various veterinary surgeons. All had cut and cauterized 
the enlargement, but without reducing its magnitude. The wounds healed 
quickly, and the constitution appeared not to be in the slightest manner 
affected. 
Why was not the swelling removed with the knife, when the kindly 
nature of the growth had been ascertained? For good and sufficient 
reasons. No operation could, with the slightest prospect of success, be 
hazarded. In the first place, nature is apt to resent the loss of so large 
a substance, or, in other words, although the surgery may be perfect, the 
life, from some unexplained cause, is likely to depart before the operation 
is finished. In the next place, most bland tumors, when of magnitude, 
are of a semi-cartilaginous nature, and spring either from tendon or 
from bone—usually from the latter. This tumor impeded the action; 
hence it was inferred that the substance ramified among the fibers of the 
pectoral muscles. Those fibers are large, and are divided; they present 
interspaces, between which the abnormal growth might readily penetrate. 
Now, unless every portion of the tumor were excised, the enlargement 
would sprout again, and the surgeon would be disgraced. To remove 
the pectoral muscle of a man, would be esteemed of little consequence, 
so that the life was preserved. But the limbs of the horse constitute 
the value of the creature’s existence; and to disable these from being 
safely moved, would be to return a burdensome life to the proprietor. 
Therefore that which is compatible with human surgery could not be 
entertained in veterinary science. 
A tumor may be small and soft, yet it must be respected. It may be 
hard, or even ulcerated and large, still its excision may be readily accom- 
plished. The majority of these growths which appear upon the horse, 
however, are not malignant. Nevertheless, let every man consult some 
duly qualified veterinarian of experience before he resorts to measures 
which, possibly, may lead to the acutest regret. 
One caution must be given before the subject is concluded. Gray 
horses, which have grown paler with age, or have become white, are 
liable to an incurable and malignant disease termed melanosis, which 
hereafter will be fully described. The presence of this disorder is 
generally testified by the appearance of some external tumor. Unless 
that enlargement be of great size and admirably situated for removal, 
it on no account should be interfered with. Let, therefore, every light- 
gray or white horse having a tumor be submitted to some experienced 
judgment, and let the owner be guided by the opinion he receives. 
