GENERAL DISEASES. 279 



Osseous Tumors. — These are of comparatively rare occur- 

 rence in the dog. When seen, they are usually found in 

 connection with the limbs, more especially about the hocks 

 ,and knees,* and are generally associated with the disease 

 termed " rickets," for the treatment of which see " Rickets." 

 Melanotic Tumor. — Melanosis is, I believe, an unrecorded 

 if not almost an unknown, disease in the dog. To Mr. Flem- 

 ing I am indebted for the following particulars of an interest- 

 ing case which came under his own notice : 



" A large, black, well-bred setter was brought to me for 

 advice, with regard to a swelling on the back part of his fore- 

 leg. The skin was very much thickened from the elbow to 

 near the carpus, and destitute of hair. The enlargement was 

 movable and soft. As it was too extensive to remove with- 

 out blemishing the dog considerably, and as it did not cause 

 any pain or inconvenience, I deemed it advisable to let it 

 alone. In a week or ten days afterwards, my farrier-major 

 brought me a portion of a dog's lung, which he said was ob- 

 tained from this setter, it having suddenly died the day before. 

 The surface of the lung was covered with round, soft, globular 



* At the present time I have a patient, a mastiff, under my care, with 

 an enormous osseous tumor o£ honeycomb or cancellated structure, sur- 

 rounding the lower end of the radius. Though the knee joint is not 

 involved, yet the foot is comparatively useless, being greatly swollen, 

 benumbed,* and dangling, owing to the pressure by the tumor on the 

 structures above. The friction of, or injury by, the chain, is supposed to 

 have been the original cause of the disease. Prior to my advice being 

 sought, it had been under the treatment of other veterinary surgeons, with- 

 out any successful results. For the first ten days I had applied, exter- 

 nally, absorbents and hot fomentations ; in the softest portions I lanced it, 

 and there was discharged from the two openings made, a thin bloody 

 fluid, not offensive, and containing no pus. The probe came in contact 

 everywhere with rough, spongy bone. The fomentations are continued, 

 with an occasional injection of a strong solution of nitrate of silver. Iron 

 and iodine are administered twice daily, and the food is of a substantial 

 nature. . The poor creature is much emaciated, but is now slightly improv- 

 ing, and the pain and swelling have abated. An entire removal of the 

 deposit is, of course, out of the question, but I have good hopes of pro- 

 longing the animal's life, and rendering him useful. 



