THE GENERATIVE APPARATUS. 169 



having been slightly injured. This ulcer proves phage- 

 denic, and may cause such disorganisation as rapidly to 

 prove fatal, although it is remarked that in other cases the 

 cancerous growth remains almost in a quiescent state until 

 the death of the animal from other causes. What this 

 disease is due to it is difficult to say, but it is generally 

 attributed to derangements of the digestive organs, and, 

 as it occurs in aged animals, to senile changes in nutrition. 

 Treatment comprises cathartic doses to empty the bowels, 

 followed by tonics and a liberal diet. Iodide of potassium 

 and alkalies internally are supposed to have been adminis- 

 tered with benefit. Locally in the second or chronic 

 stages the application of caustics is advocated, and the 

 diseased parts may require careful and thorough removal 

 with the knife. This operation is generally performed 

 together with castration, which facilitates the closure of 

 the large resulting wound. The scrotum is sometimes 

 affected with obstinate sores, which require great care in 

 treatment. 



Castration of the dog is performed in the usual manner, 

 preferably by scraping. In this animal, as in man, the 

 vascular part of the cord (or simply the spermatic artery) 

 may be ligatured, and the testis and epididymis removed 

 at once with the knife ; or the organs may be ablated by 

 means of a small chain ecraseur. But little after-treatment 

 is required. The operation renders the animal dull and 

 phlegmatic, inclined to sleep and grow fat, and much less 

 companionable than previously. It should be performed 

 only in case of the above- described disease of the scrotum, 

 or where the testis has undergone malignant change. 

 The testes should always be specially looked for in 

 examining a dog as to soundness, as they are sometimes 

 removed before sale by owners who wish to monopolise a 

 breed. Impotence, of course, results from this last-men- 

 tioned practice, but it also is found in association with 

 other conditions, such as excessive fatness, chronic disease 

 of the testicles, and occasionally as an individual pecu- 

 liarity, especially in over-bred animals of very valuable 

 breeds. In cases where the testes are present occasionally 



