126 
ON TUMOURS ABOUT THE HEAD AND THROAT 
OF CATTLE. 
By Mr. John Relph, V.S., Sebergham. 
Of all the accidental productions met with among cattle, with 
the exception of wens, a certain kind of indurated tumour, chiefly 
situated about the head and throat, has abounded most in my 
practice. 
The affection often commences in one of the thyroid glands, 
which slowly but gradually increases in size, feels firm when 
grasped, and evinces very little tenderness. Generally, the at- 
tendant is alarmed by a snoring or wheezing noise emitted by 
the animal in respiration, before he is aware of the existence of 
any tumefaction. This continues to increase, embracing in its 
progress the adjacent cellular and muscular tissues, and fre- 
quently the submaxillary and parotid glands. It becomes firmly 
attached to the skin, through which an opening is ultimately ef- 
fected by the pressure of pus from the centre of the tumour. 
The swelling often presents an irregular surface, and various 
centres of maturation exist ; but the evacuations only effect a 
partial and temporary reduction of its bulk, in consequence of 
the continued extension of the morbid growth and ulcerative pro- 
cess, which often proceed towards the pharynx, rendering respi- 
ration and deglutition still more difficult, until at length the ani- 
mal sinks from atrophy or phthisis pulmonalis. 
In the early part of my practice, having been frustrated in my 
attempts to establish healthy action in these ulcers, and referring 
to the works that I had on surgery for information, I concluded 
that they bore some resemblance to cancer in the human being, 
and determined to attempt extirpation. Subsequently, numerous 
cases have occurred in which I have successfully carried that 
determination into effect. I have had some instances of failure, 
which failure always arose from some portion of the morbid 
growth having been left. 
In the first stage, I have reason to believe that the tumour 
may be dispersed by the general and topical use of the iodurets. 
After suppuration I have tried them in vain. 
As soon as the nature of the tumour is clearly developed, I 
generally attempt its removal, and, when most prominent by the 
side of the larynx, I proceed in the following manner : — Having 
cast the beast, turned the occiput towards the ground, and 
bolstered it up with bundles of straw, I proceed to make an 
incision through it, if the skin is free, parallel with and over 
and between the trachea and sterno-maxillaris, extending it suf- 
