394 
Lamenesses of Sheep and Lambs. 
motions of tlie joint, they cause inconvenience or stiffness, but 
neither pain nor actual lameness. They contain a small quantity 
of serous fluid amongst innumerable layers of lymph, which 
pass in all directions, dividing the swelling into many compart- 
ments. Such tumours commonly result from the animal bruising 
the skin by lying down upon hard stones or rough ground. To 
mitigate or prevent the recurrence of such injury, nature prepares 
a natural pad. Serum and lymph are poured into the cellular 
tissue. The lymph shortly becomes organised and partitioned 
off into separate compartments, which are lined with a smooth 
secreting serous membrane. Lancing, blisters, and firing are 
quite ineffectual in removing such tumours, for such remedies 
cannot cause the reabsorption of the lymph or the destruction 
of the secreting serous membrane. One method of reduction 
consists in passing a large rough seton of plaited tow, horse hair, 
tape, or metallic wire through the swelling. It ought to be 
moved about at intervals, smeared with some acrid matter if 
it do not act powerfully enough, and retained until free sup- 
puration is established. To prevent laceration of the skin, the 
ends of the seton ought not to be tied together, but left free, with 
a bit of wood attached to each. But this method of treatment, 
althougli it materially reduces the bulk of the tumour, does not 
always entirely or permanently remove it. The secreting mem- 
brane usually remains, and pours out fresh organisable materials, 
and a second tumour is gradually produced. Reproduction of 
the tumour may, however, be effectually prevented by removing 
the whole of its contents. A fi'ce incision must be made upon 
its lower surface. Every portion of lymph, every shred of mem- 
brane must be pressed or torn out. Inflammation is of course 
the result of this violence, and is of great utility in contracting 
the skin, and promoting its adhesion to the capsular ligament 
of the joint, thus obliterating the cavity occupied by the growth. 
To keep the inflammation within manageable limits, and prevent 
the excessive outpouring of serum and lymph, the limb must 
be swathed in a thin light bandage, which ought to be adjusted 
so as to exercise equable pressure. To favour the exit of matter 
it must also be looser below than above, and to moderate the 
inflammation it should be wetted at intervals Avith cold water or 
diluted vinegar. The dependent orifice is not to be covered 
up, but, on the contrary, must be kept open with pledgets of tow 
until adhesion has taken place between the skin and the capsular 
ligament of the joint. This operation, although apparently some- 
wliat formidable, is seldom attended with any bad consequences, 
and is the only certain and effectual way of removing such 
tumours. The same treatment, it may be mentioned, is also 
serviceable in the removal of similar tumours amongst cattle. 
