DISEASES OF THE MAMMARY GLANDS. 1 75 



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 vascular 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 appli- 

 cation of the tincture of iron. 



The edges of the incised skin are to be brought in apposi- 

 tion with interrupted silk sutures, steeped in a weak solution 

 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, unstimulating 

 diet, and tonics, if there is much p-obti'ation. 



