REPORT OF CASES. 
67 
MELANOTIC TUMOR : —REMOVAL : —RECOVERY. 
By Charles H. Hall, D. V. S. (House Surgeon.) 
The 2Otli of last March a spotted grey gelding, eleven years old, 
fifteen and three-quarter hands high, owned by Mr. Charles Mulford 
of this city, was brought to the American Veterinary College, with the 
following history : “ The swelling which you see upon the lower part 
of the neck is now the largest it has been in three years, during which 
time it has been gradually increasing from nothing. It has not given 
much inconvenience till the last two weeks, when, on account of the 
pain from the pressure of the collar, I have been unable to work 
the animal.” 
Condition on admission. —The tumor was situated in the inferior 
cervical region, a little to the right of the median line, just under the 
lower portion of the levator humeri muscle, in the triangular space, 
formed by this muscle and the anterior border of the sterno humeralis ; 
it was large, hard, well defined and firmly attached ; decided to be of 
a melanotic character, and its removal desirable ; the animal was in 
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good health and spirits. 
Prognosis , favorable. 
Treatment. —On the 24th he was cast and a longitudinal incision of 
four inches was made over the enlargement, and after careful dissection 
with the aid of scalpel, and often by laceration of the adhesions with 
the handles of the instrument, a melanotic growth of fourteen and a 
half ounces in weight was removed without loss of blood of any 
consequence. 
The final separation was effected with the ecraseur on account of 
a large blood vessel, probably a branch of the inferior cervical artery, 
passing through the tumor. 
The cavity was then dressed with oakum and carbolic solution, 
and a tent of the former left in. 
25th. The wound has no swelling, only a little oozing serosity 
from the lower portion ; treatment, bathing with cold water. 
26th. Cavity doing well; bathed in cold water. 
27th. Cavity does not look as well to-day ; a little gangrenous 
spot appears in the center ; dressed with the spray of carbolic acid and 
chloride of zinc. 
28th. Cavity looks better ; dressed antiseptically. 
31st. Cavity looks well ; the animal continues in good spirits. 
