USE OF THE ELASTIC LIGATURE. 
195 
time by their elasticity cutting through the tissue, or in other 
words strangulating the tumor, the result of which is a necrosed 
mass with a foetid odor. They must necessarily give rise to more 
or less pain to the patient, but leave a cleanly cut surface readily 
amenable to treatment; frequently the tumor shrivels up and 
does not appear to cause the animal any annoyance. 
The mode of applying the ligature is to have an assistant ex¬ 
tend or isolate the tumor or growth from the surrounding tissue 
and then wind the elastic round the base, taking in as much of 
the growth as possible, thereby avoiding the possibility of leaving 
much if any part remaining; then tie or secure the ends; 
within a comparatively short time the tumor will drop off, though 
in some cases a second ligature will have to be used. 
The knife of course should be used where the structure is 
deep or the tumor not well defined and where hemorrhage can be 
easily controlled ; it may be said, is it not better to dissect out the 
tumor and draw the skin together with sutures so that the liability 
of having a large cicatrix be avoided, but in how many cases does 
immediate union take place ? In veterinary practice, the sutures 
give away and it is much better to treat from the start as an 
open wound, such as results from ligation, having an even granu¬ 
lating surface. 
All these methods have been used at the American Veterinary 
Hospital, their application of course depending upon the character 
of the tumor. A few cases where the elastic ligature has been ap¬ 
plied may be of interest to the readers of the Review. 
E^rly in May a black gelding was sent to the Hospital for 
treatment. He had on the near elbow a large fungoid growth 
the size of a child’s head, which had been growing for months; an 
elastic ligature was firmly secured around the base of the growth 
where it was about 3^ inches in diameter. The ligature cut about 
half way through in 48 hours. A second one was applied and in 
40 hours the tumor disappeared, leaving a smooth granulating 
surface. 
A dressing powder of sulph. copper, pulv. gentian and animal 
charcoal was prescribed and the horse resumed work; was re¬ 
turned in a few days with a thick scab formed by the application 
