78 Surgical Diseases and Surgery of the Dog 



nal incision if considered advisable. Porcupine quills must be 

 pushed forward through the cheeks, or left to emerge. 



NEOPLASMS. 



Both innocent and malignant growths occur in the mucosa and 

 submucosa and in the subjacent tissues of the buccal cavity. The 

 former class comprises the wart-like papillomata, fibroma or so- 

 called benign epulis, the buccal and salivary retention-cysts or so- 

 called ranula, and osteoma of the jaw. The malignant growths con- 

 sist of epithelioma and sarcoma or so-called malignant epulis. The 

 term epulis literalUy means "situated on the gums," and as it 

 possesses no pathologic signification and is equally applicable to one 

 form of growth as to another, should be excluded from nomen- 

 clature. 



The Papillomata occur fairly commonly in young animals 

 and are undoubtedly contagious or infectious in character (see 

 Chapter on Neoplasms, Papillomata). 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. They are observed as small, isolat- 

 ed or confluent, pedunculate or sessile, whitish, dendritic, multiple 

 growths, springing from the mucosa and situated on the inner aspect 

 of the cheeks and lips, on the g^ms, and sometimes on the tongue 

 and hard palate. When numerous they interfere with mastication 

 and induce a buccal secretion of foul odor. 



Treatment. This disorder does not actually require any treat- 

 ment, as after remaining in evidence for a few weeks the growths 

 disappear 'as spontaneously as they arise. To hasten their removal, 

 the larger ones and confluent masses may be removed with curved 

 scissors. The mouth should be swabbed out daily with deoderant 

 solutions, a solution of permanganate of potash (2:100) answering 

 the purpose. 



Fibroma. This form of tumor is a hyperplasia of connective 

 tissue elements which may be a pure fibrous growth or of mixed 

 character, containing cartilaginous matter and spiculae of bone. It 

 has its origin either in the submucous tissue or the periosteum of the 

 maxilla. It occurs as a single growth and is not very common. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. It grows at the edge of the gums 

 as a firm reddish enlargement varying in size from a pea to a hazel- 

 nut. Its usual position is the neighborhood of the incisors and it 

 may occupy the entire area between the two canines. Its evolution 



