188 COM PTE RENDU OF THE SCHOOL AT LYONS, 
as we could; for it had become varicose, and haemorrhage from 
it would have been annoying and dangerous. We next deter- 
mined to surround the principal tumours with two semi-elliptical 
incisions — to operate on that at the summit by means of a crucial 
incision, not preserving more of the skin than was necessary to 
cover the subjacent parts — to leave the near-side tumour to be 
operated upon at the close of the business, because it would be 
necessary to turn the animal, and to place him in a painful posi- 
tion — to secure the vessels as they presented themselves, which 
would retard the operation, but render it more sure ; and, finally, 
not to touch the pedicle until we had fairly detached the tumour all 
round — to secure the vessels at the base in several fasciculi, and 
to enclose nothing in the same ligature with the pedicle. 
The operation was quickly performed, without any thing parti- 
cular occurring — the borders of the wound were brought together 
by several distinct ligatures — an appropriate bandage applied, and 
the mule conducted again to his stable — well littered down — all 
food put out of the way for some hours, and a careful attendant 
left with him. 
In the meantime we were occupied in weighing and examining 
the tumours. They weighed more than 50 pounds. They were 
covered by the subcutaneous muscle of the neck, presenting at certain 
points a muscular, and at others a fibrous aspect. Below, the cel- 
lular tissue had acquired great firmness ; it creaked under the scalpel, 
and buried itself deeply between the lobes of the tumour, furnishing 
a complete envelope for it. The tumours consisted of an encepha- 
loid mass in its last stage of growth : it was a greyish white sub- 
stance, very dense, and likewise creaking when pressed upon. It 
was penetrated by numerous bloodvessels. The interlobular cel- 
lular envelopes were studded in some places with hydatids, vary- 
ing in size from that of a pea to a pullet’s egg, and from which a 
fluid plentifully escaped during the operation — in other parts was 
a semi-fluid substance, yellow, unctuous, and which communicated 
a stain like grease to paper — finally, there were numerous reser- 
voirs filled with a dirty-coloured fluid, lightly stained with red. 
Soon after the operation, the fever of reaction began to develop 
itself, and considerable inflammation surrounded the wound — the 
appetite, however, was unaffected. We endeavoured to meet this 
state of the system by giving a sufficient quantity of food to pre- 
serve a certain degree of energy without overloading the system ; 
but, in despite of all our attention (and it was unremitted), on the 
eighth day, and when an abundant secretion of greyish-coloured 
pus had taken place, the strength of the animal began to be ex- 
hausted, although none of his senses seemed to be affected. The pus 
diminished in quantity, and assumed a serous character. Serous 
