124 CANCER OF NERVES AND BRAIN OF A COW 
two ganglia — the casserian and the spheno-palatine, the 
olfactory bulb and nerves, the lateral-nasal nerve, and the 
pituitary body, was as follows : 
Its outer surface was nodulated, each nodule being made 
up of granules about the size of a mustard seed. It was of a 
yellowish-white colour, and when cut into resembled the cut 
surface of gristly fat, if we suppose it to be granulated. The 
thickened parts of the nerves before alluded to, with the 
exception of the lateral-nasal, seemed to depend upon a fibro- 
serous interstitial deposit, which gave to them, when cut, an 
irregular striated aspect. 
Feeling confident that the above morbid production was 
malignant in its nature, I was induced to examine a portion 
of it by the aid of the microscope. The small portions I 
examined were simply treated with water. I observed cells 
of various sizes and forms to exist. They averaged, as near 
as I could make out, about ^ th of an inch in diameter, some 
being larger than this measurement, and others smaller. 
Some of them were ovoid in form, others circular. Some 
were oval, with angular processes, apparently drawn out. 
Others were pear-shaped, and some were found fusiform. 
All of them were nucleated, and from their very near resem- 
blance to the cells of scirrhous cancer, as described and de- 
lineated by Paget, in the second volume of his admirable 
work on c Surgical Pathology/ I feel no hesitation in stating 
that the disease affecting the nerves and ganglia in this case 
was cancer. 
Remarks . — There are some points in this case which I 
cannot refrain from making a few brief comments upon. 
I am of an opinion that all who are acquainted with the 
habits, and especially with the diseases of our domesticated 
animals, will agree with me that the ox tribe is more often 
the subject of scrofula, and also true cancer, than any other 
animal, with the exception, perhaps, of the dog. If such be 
the case, it becomes a very important matter for the breeder’s 
serious consideration, as well as the veterinary surgeon’s when 
forming his diagnosis and prognosis. 
It must be obvious to all close observers and reflecting 
minds, remembering the tendency there is in disease of the 
above nature to be transmitted from one generation to 
another, that it would be unwise to breed from parents 
affected with cancerous growths, or possessing a scrofulous 
diathesis. 
This peculiarly destructive disease, as far as my experience 
goes, is found to exist to a greater extent in the higher than 
it is in the more common breed of cattle. 
