AMERICAN VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
225 
NEW GROWTH OF A MELANOTIC TUMOR IN A BAY HORSE- 
AMPUTATION OF THE TAIL. 
By G. A. Lathrop, D.Y.S., House Surgeon. 
A bay gelding, 15.1 hands, 18 years of age, was brought to 
the free clinic September 26th, 1887, suffering with a melanotic 
tumor of the tail, two and one-half inches in diameter. The 
owner was advised to have it extirpated, to which he consented. 
The tumor was removed and the patient discharged in a conva¬ 
lescing condition, with hopes at the time of a permanent recov¬ 
ery, but a guarded prognosis was given at the time and a report 
given of the same in the November number of the Review in 
1887. 
About seven months later, May 5th, 1888, the same horse 
was brought to the free clinic again by another party—he having 
changed owners in the meantime—to be treated for the same 
affection. 
Upon examination, a large growth, 14 inches in circumfer¬ 
ence and 8 inches in diameter, situated at the same seat of the 
previous tumor, was found. There was also another small growth 
underneath the tail and nearer the base. Ulceration had taken 
place on the surface of the larger growth, rendering the case still 
more complicated, with less chance for a recovery, and as ampu¬ 
tation of the tail was the only means by which a recovery might 
take place, an unfavorable prognosis was given ; but the owner 
was advised to have it operated upon, to which he consented, and 
accordingly the horse was cast and an elastic bandage applied 
around the tail above the growth, to control the hemorrhage. 
The tail was then amputated two inches above the tumor, by a 
single incision, and the end of the stump severely cauterized by 
the actual cautery, to control the hemorrhage and also to destroy 
any melanotic growths that might be present. 
Was seen again May 16th ; wound was doing nicely; a large 
scab had formed, and very little suppuration was present. 
Was seen again June 6th ; .scab had come off, wound was 
granulating nicely and of a very healthy nature; was cauterized 
slightly with chloride of zinc solution ; has not been seen since. 
