phangitis or adenitis, and these present a clinical aspect which at first
may make one believe it farcy or glanders ; it is also that which, when
located upon the buccal mucous membrane, constitutes the disease de-
scribed under the name of contagious pustular stomatitis.
Lafosse and Bouley have shown, by inoculation of cattle, the true nature
of this eruptive affection with so many manifestations : the fluid of the
pustules, inserted in the skin of heifers, has produced vaccine.
The cutaneous phlegmasias produced by horse pox may affect lymphatics
in various degrees, but their typical progress, their peculiar characteristics
and their short duration render the diagnosis easy. Even on the fetlock
or the coronet it is easy to differentiate the eruption of horse- pox from
gangrenous dermatitis (cutaneous quittor) from scratches or from " grease."
Since the disease is very contagious, prophylactic measures are im-
portant. Avoid the transportation of the virulent serosity by means of
instruments used for cleaning the animals. The cyclic evolution of the
eruption, and in the generality of cases its benignity, disprove active
interference. Ordinarily it is sufficient to watch the progress of the disease
and attend to the complications that may appear, such as lymphangitis,
adenitis, etc. The application of absorbing or antiseptic powders at the
stage of exudation and in the cases of acute inflammation of the skin of
the lower parts of the extremities, rest, carbolic or cresyl warm baths
and wadded dressing constitute all required therapeutics.
Moller advises dusting the diseased parts with a mixture of tannin
and iodoform, or covering them with an ointment of paraffin and red
oxide of mercury with a wadded dressing, which is left for a variable length
of time, according to the amount of suppuration.
ELEPHANTIASIS. 2^f
III.
ELEPHANTIASIS.
Elephantiasis is not a simple morbid entity, but a lesion common to
several affections. In animals we do not observe the enzootic form that
"human" physicians find in filariosis. The form which attacks horses
corresponds to that known in man as ArahiaJi elephantiasis. I'he disturb-
ances of the venous or lymphatic circulation, or of both, are the ordinary
causes.
The onset of the disease varies : at times it occurs immediately after
an attack of acute lymphangitis whose resolution has been incomplete ;
at others it succeeds the local swellings accompanying suppurative lesions
of the skin (furuncles, scratches), or at others seems to come at once
without any apparent lesion of a venous or lymphatic nature, and develops
slowly. In all cases the process consists in a " hypertrophical fibrous der-
matitis with sclerosis of the skin and connective tissue."
In horses, elephantiasis is especially common to the hind legs, localized
on one or affecting both ; it is also seen on the fore legs, or on other
regions, principally the sheath or the lips.
The diseased parts are the seat of a chronic phlegmasia which will
not disappear. Besides the acute manifestations that may appear, the
swelling is evenly hard and painless ; it increases by rest and diminishes
by exercise. In the hind legs, the hypertrophy is sometimes limited to
the fetlock and the phalanges ; often it extends to the fetlock, and in some
cases goes higher, to the shank. Ordinarily, the swelling is uniform, the
leg hypertrophied as a "regular cylinder," the skin is tense, hard,
smooth, without inflammatory spots or fissures or epidermic abrasion.
Inflammatory manifestations may occur and abscesses develop in the thick-
ness of the dermis. When the affection is old and the leg enlarged,
projecting ridges are seen on the hock, fetlock and coronet. The affected
leg may assume considerable size and weight ; in a case of elephantiasis
of the hind leg in a horse, Siedamyrotzky has seen the hock measuring
75 centimeters around and the fetlock 65. Burmeister has dissected one
leg which was so large that the subtarsal region weighed 50 kilos (100
pounds).
Wounds of the extremities, scratches and lymphangitis are rarely
complicated with elephantiasis when a wadded dressing immobilizes the
region and prevents the soiling of the wounds and the chronic inflamma-
Uqu of the skm and connective tissue.
^3S VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS.
The disease once established has no tendency towards resolution : all
means used against it fail. It is said to be the more serious and obstinate
the more rapidly it develops. Whatever its mode of development, we have
almost always found it equally tenacious.
Ointments made of lard, which irritate the skin and promote the drop-
ping of the hair, should be avoided. Alteratives, blisters, actual cauteriza-
tion, not only are of no benefit, but their action is most often injurious ; in
the few cases where we have tried them they have invariably produced an
increased activity of the hypertrophy. Scarifications are followed by the
escape of a little quantity of fluid ; the sclerosis is greater than the oedema.
Disinfection of the skin and keeping it in perfect cleanliness, slight mas-
sage and compression constitute the whole treatment. Abuse of baths
and douches is injurious. Compression is made with flannel bandages or
elastic rollers : it should be intermittent and tightened to a moderate de-
gree ; if it is too loose it will produce no effect ; too tight, it may bring
on cutaneous gangrene. With some patients, the latter can be produced
very readily ; we have several times seen sloughs made by a rubber band
moderately tightened. To resume, one should advise moderate work,
medium massage and the application, for the night, of a rubber bandage
rolled from below upwards round the leg and wrapped in a pad of oakum
to regulate the pressure : the leg should be kept strictly clean, frequently
washed with tepid water and dried. Light elastic pressure should not
continue more than ten or twelve hours.
Lymphangitic manifestations and abscesses that sometimes occur, de-
mand other means of treatment. (See Diseases of the Lymphatics and
Abscesses.)
Under the name of elephantiasis has been described an affection of
cattle very different from that of the same name in the horse. It begins
with dulness, inappetency, febrile symptoms ; the skin becomes tumefied
on the dewlap, under the abdomen and on the legs, then the knee and
hock. The nose, ears and eyelids are soon oedematous ; ulcerations ap-
pear sometimes in the mouth and in the nose, accompanied with a flow
of thick and fetid saliva or a more or less abundant nasal discharge.
Soon fissures appear on the diseased parts, the skin dries up, the hair falls
off. Some animals die ; but generally the wounds heal and the animal
recovers, but remains thin. The thickened skin is covered with fur-
furaceous scales ; in some cases the hair does not grow any more. Zundel
considers this as a special form of contagious catarrh. For Cad^ac, it is a
variety of anasarca.
Cruzel has for a long time tried numerous pharmaceutical products.
Arterial bleeding, however, nitrated drinks, but especially frictions with
sj^Jirits of turpentine, repeated several times a day on all tumefied parts of
ACNE. ^30
the skin, seem to be the most advantageous treatment at the beginning,
and when there are no cracks on the skin. Cadt^ac recommends the treat-
ment used in anasarca : at the very outset, before the appearance of the
swellings, bleeding gives the best results ; later, the sulphate of soda,
alcohol, wine, nitrate of potash, scarifications and vapor baths. Irritating
frictions (charges, ammoniacal liniment, spirits of turpentine) made on the
swellings might be used.
If gangrene occurs, the sloughing of the eschars is to be assisted, and
the wounds following to be dressed antiseptically
V.
ACNE.
The papulo-pustular eruptions due to the inflammation of sebaceous
glands of a non-specific nature are met in subjects of the various domestic
species, but more frequently in horses and dogs. Produced by multiple
causes, they seem to be especially the result of mechanical irritations to
which the pilo-sebaceous follicles are particularly sensitive.
In horses recently clipped, it is. common to observe, on the regions
supporting the harness, confluent patches of acne. Short, rough hair
transmits the pressure to the hairy bulbs, act as irritating thorns, and thus
promote a papular or pustular inflammation. On the superior border of
the neck, where the collar rests, the hair of the mane, cut very short,
may also irritate the pilo-sebaceous follicles and bring on an eruption
of acne, which may be complicated with extremely painful cores. (See
Cores.) In dogs, acne may be seen in the most different regions ; some-
times, in serious cases, it becomes generalized. It is rare in ruminants.
When the cause of acne is known, the first rule of treatment is to relieve
or remove it. On horses, soft pads should be placed between the har-
ness and the diseased part. Since dirt keeps up the disease and pro-
motes its spreading, repeated tepid antiseptic washings should be given,
and after careful drying the parts should be covered with glycerine, car-
bolated or borated vaseline. When the disease is recent, these means
are sufficient. On old cases, when the skin is indurated, mercurial oint-
ment can be advantageously used.
In the case of dogs, for recent acne, salicylic lanolin (salicylic acid 20,
lanolin 80-100) is better; but for old acne, cresyled boric acid (creoline
I, boric acid 40). Before their application, the purulent pimples should
be opened and the diseased surfaces well cleaned.
240 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS.
VI.
FURUNCLE— ANTHRAX.
Circumscribed infectious inflammations of tiie skin, ending in suppura-
tion and the formation of sloughing cores, are somewhat common in
animals. In furuncle, the inflammation is limited to small cutaneous
spots : the tumor resulting from it is small, conical and very painful ; it
suppurates and is followed by the slough of its necrosed center. Furun-
culosis is observed in all domestic animals. Zundel has observed it in
horses which, having been accustomed to good care and little work, have
been called to heavy service ; in army reformed horses, in animals which
after working for grain and seed dealers have been disposed of, and also
in reduced and exhausted animals. We have often observed it on various
parts of a dog, and on horses on the lower parts of the hind legs.
Ordinary anthrax is but a voluminous, diffuse furuncle, extending to the
subcutaneous connective tissue, or an inflammatory tumor formed by con-
fluent furuncles. Like the generality of human surgeons and of foreign
veterinarians, we have no hesitation, notwithstanding the etymology, to
apply this word to lesions which have nothing in common with anthrax
(charbon).
Bacteriology has shown that furuncle and anthrax are promoted in man
by the same micro-organism, the staphylococcus pyogenes aureus. In the
furuncle " the infectious organism enters by the opening of a pilo-sebace-
ous follicle ... if several neighboring each other are affected the furuncle
becomes an anthrax " (Broca).
Basilicon ointment, mercurial frictions, laurel ointment and poultices
must be left aside. The disinfection of the region carefully made, first
with soap and water, then with tepid antiseptic solutions (corrosive
sublimate, carbolic acid or cresyl), and above all, lotions or atomizing
vapors of these solutions and also warm compresses (50°) covered with an
impermeable protection, constitutes the best treatment of the furuncle.
These antiseptic compresses have all the advantages of poultices and
none of their inconveniences. With them pain subsides, redness dimin-
ishes and the lesion is circumscribed. For inferior regions of the legs
antiseptic baths are to be particularly recommended ; they can be given
two or three times a day and their action completed with compresses.
In the case of anthrax the preceding form of treatment may be followed
alone or preceded by the early incision of the tumor, according to the
seriousness of the lesions. If purulent collections develop in the neighbor-
SEBACEOUS CYSTS. 24I
hood they should be opened as early as possible and properly dressed.
Free incision and drainage are sometimes useful. Thermo-cautery will
arrest the hemorrhage and prevent auto-inoculations. (See Adsress.)
Sometimes a general treatment is required. Purgatives and arsenic
seem of little advantage. Cresyl and naphtol are good in some cases.
VII.
SEBACEOUS CYSTS.
These are seen with varying frequency in all domestic animals and on
any region of the body. In horses they are most frequent on the nose,
in the false nostril, the lips, the ear and the sheath. Their origin is still
in doubt ; the majority of authors say that they are due to the accumula-
tion in sebaceous glands of the product of their secretion ; but one may
exceptionally observe them on the buccal mucous membrane and on that
of the lips, where there are no sebaceous glands : perhaps these are cases
of epidermic occlusions. The first cause is the obliteration of the orifice
of the duct common to the hair and the sebaceous follicles, produced
either by dried epidermic scales or by inilammation. The size varies
from that of a hazel-nut to a large nut. They are round, perhaps a little
flattened, depressed in the center, well defined in their surroundings,
painless, of various consistency, most commonly puffy, more or less resis-
tent, at times fluctuating or again of an uneven consistency, very hard
in some places, very soft in others. The contents, formed of epidermic
cells and greasy substances, vary in their aspect according to the pro-
portion of the constituent elements ; generally it is a caseous mass, at times
a solid substance analogous to solidified fat (steatomatous cyst), at others
it is a matter looking like honey (melicerous cyst).
If the positive diagnosis in some cases is quite difficult, it is of
secondary importance : the sebaceous cyst cannot be mistaken only for
afifections requiring the same mode of treatment — puncture or removal.
Simple puncture is always insufficient ; it permits the evacuation of the
contents, but the wound heals rapidly and the growth returns. Repeated
punctures followed by irritating injections (tincture of iodine 1-3, chloride
of zinc i-io) are often sufficient to obtain recovery. We succeeded
with this treatment in the case of two large cysts of the false nostril.
Potential caustics used after the evacuation of the contents are also
somewhat successful. Ablation is the best way, however. After incision
of the skin the mass is enucleated with the bistoury or the director, care-
fully avoiding the opening of the sac. With antiseptic care the cicatriza-
tion of the wound is rapidly obtained.
16
242 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS,
VIII.
CUTANEOUS HORNS.
Abnormal projections are sometimes observed on animals in various
regions, but more particularly on the head. They are hard, formed of
keratinized epidermic cells, and known as cutaneous horns. Generalized
horns have, so far, been observed only in men. In animals — horses, cattle,
sheep, dogs and cats — only cases of single horns have been recorded. Al-
though their chosen spot is the head, they also grow on the back, flank,
abdomen, and on the legs. They are of various lengths and sizes, straight
or curved, smooth or rough. In parts exposed to repeated rubbings neo-
formations similar to them may be observed. (See Hygroma of the Knee.)
Some of these productions fall ofif after several months, but are soon
replaced by others. The others remain permanently.
While in mammifera cutaneous horns are the expression of a horny
hypersecretion due to causes which cannot be determined in some species
of birds, especially in parrots, it is common to find on the cheeks or
other regions of the head, on the buccal mucous membrane, on the
trunk and the extremities, horny productions of a tuberculous nature.
Since attention has been drawn to these singular tuberculous neoformations
we have met with several cases. In these the bacillus of Koch promotes
the keratogenesis. Krampf has reported the case of a phthisical parrot
which had on the right cheek a horn measuring two centimeters at its
base and five centimeters in length. (See Fig. 56.) Megnin has recently
reported a similar case.
The only efficacious treatment is extirpation. If cutaneous horns are
only sawed off they grow again. They must be removed entirely, and the
portions of perverted skin where they are must be excised, or, as recom-
mended by some, destroyed with caustics. The use of the bistoury is
better. (For the treatment of cutaneous horns of the parrot, see Tuber-
culosis.)
The ichtyosis observed in calves by Numann, Gurlt, Pangoue, Goubaux,
consists of a general hypertrophy of the epidermis. The skin resembles
that of an alligator. There is no treatment for such an affection. All
the calves which were affected with it died a few days after birth.
TUMORS. 243
IX.
TUMORS.
Cutaneous papillomata, common to animals, are more frequent in
horses and cattle than in other species. They are observed on all regions,
but those which are most affected are the head, the inferior face of the
trunk, the genital organs, and the internal face of the legs. In horses,
donkeys and mules, papillomata sometimes exist in great number, so
that they can be counted by hundreds over the surface of the body. On
a cow treated by Lehnert their weight amounted to twenty kilos. They
Vary in size from that of a pea to that of a nut, and sometimes form
masses as big as the fist.
Although these tumors are not serious in themselves, they are much
exposed to traumatic action, bleed easily, become inflamed and secrete a
purulent fluid which dries on their surface or putrefies and has a fetid odor.
They may also interfere with the motions of the animal or with other
functions, and when they exist in great numbers they soon have an evil
effect on the general condition.
The considerable number of warts which sometimes exists on one
animal has suggested the admission of a " papillomatous diathesis."
Hertwig has claimed that these productions were hereditary. It has been
supposed that secondary tumors sometimes develop in parts soiled by the
blood of a primitive growth. Their contagious nature has been admitted
for a long time by outsiders. Majocci, Cornil, and Babes have found in
them a special parasite — the bacterium poi-ri.
In young animals it is not rare to see warts disappear spontaneously,
even when they exist on comparatively wide surfaces. The same termin-
ation of these may be observed at all ages. Liibke has related the case of
a thirteen-year-old horse covered with warts of all sizes, which dropped
off without any treatment, leaving wounds which cicatrized regularly. But
these spontaneous recoveries are exceptional, and when warts are numer-
ous, voluminous, or when they simply interfere with functions, they de-
mand an active treatment. The internal therapeutics (calcinated magne-
sia, arsenious acid, mercurials) succeed only with benign ephemeral forms
or with those whose time of recovery has arrived. If magnesia given in
doses of 0.50 centigrams to two grams a day seems to bring on the slough
of the labial warts of the dog, we know that they disappear spontaneously ;
and the case of Liibke, to which many others could be added, shows that
the result will be the same for cutaneous warts wherever they may grow.
The only efficacious treatment of permanent warts is their destruction
244 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS.
with caustics, ligature or the bistoury. Sulphuric, nitric, muriatic, acetic
or chromic acid can be used. After scraping the superficial layer which
covers them the caustic fluid is applied on the top of the growth with a
glass or wooden rod, being careful not to touch beyond the outlines of
the affection. The cauterized layer dries off and sloughs after a few days.
The cauterization may be repeated several times. Arsenious acid and
several arsenical products, used as powders, dusted on the surface of
the warts, brings on mortification and sloughing. Boudeaud has recom-
mended repeated applications of the following preparations :
Grams.
Arsenious acid 5
Sabine powder \ - -
Pulverized gum-arabic /
Simple cerate 36
Corrosive sublimate i
Resinated collodion 30
In the case of large animals, where the treatment must be quick and
economical, the best way is to remove these tumors with the ecraseur,
the bistoury, or to burn their bases with the red-hot iron. In dogs, silk
ligature is preferred, or slight and repeated cauterizations until they are
entirely removed.
Multiple fibroinas, adenomas, osteomas (Leblanc), neurojuas and the
other neoplastic species are more rare. If they are numerous, interfer-
ence is difficult and often useless. When they are isolated the treatment
consists in the free removal of the neoplasia. The adenoma of Lienaux
was not adherent to the skin : its extirpation was easy. Bony plates of the
subcutaneous connective tissue (Liard, Laquerriere) are removed almost
always successfully.
Epitheliomas and caticroids are ordinarily met in the neighborhood of
natural openings, most commonly the lips. They are peculiarly common
on old dogs. Their clinical characteristics are well known : at first a small,
hard, invading tumor ; later, painless or almost painless ulceration, sharply
outlined at the top, dry at the base, grayish in color, surrounded with in-
durations and accompanied with specific lymphangitis and adenitis. At
the beginning recovery has sometimes been obtained with arsenical
caustics. Chlorate of potassium in powder or saturated solution and
methylene blue have succeeded in some cases. But total extirpation of
the neoplastic center is still the chosen treatment. It is important to
operate early, before the appearance of the adenopathies. (See Treatment
of Tumors in General.)
Cutaneous and hypodermic sarcomas exist ordinarily with visceral growths
of the same nature, more or less generalized.
TUMORS. 245
i' *â– .
PARASITIC AFFECTIONS.
We shall say nothing of the affections produced by insects, acari or
fungi which live on the surface of the skin. The genera sarcophagus
and lucilla give larvae which live as parasites upon wounds of men and of
animals ; Megnin has found on them the sa^rophagus magnificent. In
Holland the developed larvae of lucilla have been observed on sheep. In
tropical countries the larvae of some meat-flies deposited on the umbilicus
of young calves produce fatal inflammations (Friedberger and Frohner).
Cleanliness and washing with antiseptic solutions are sufficient to per-
fect a cure. The ochromycis anthropophagus, or fly of Cayor, gives larvae
which develop in the subcutaneous connective tissue of man and some
animals (dogs, cats, goats). The small tumors that they produce disap-
pear rapidly after the exit of the larvae, which can be assisted by a free
incision. The connective tissue of pigeons contains sometimes a larvae
{hypodectes columbaruni) which produces slight inflammation.
During the summer season the hxpodenna hovis lays eggs on the
surface of the skin of cattle, which produce larvae that perforate the skin
and develop in the subcutaneous tissue. In the following spring tumors
in various numbers are observed on the body of the animal, about the
size of a nut and resembling cold abscesses. These are due to the chronic
inflammation caused by the presence of the parasites. The skin ulcerates
and presents little suppurating wounds. The trouble can be prevented
by soaking the skin in appropriate solutions (oak-leaf decoctions, weak
solutions of tobacco, aloes, asafetida). It has been recommended not to
take the animal to pasture before ten o'clock in the morning during the
warm season (from April to August). The larvae that are thrown out
before that hour fall on the floor of the stable and die, while they would
develop easily in pastures. The larvae can be killed in their pouch by in-
jections of benzine, turpentine, salt water, tar, or they can be cauterized
with a red-hot stylet ; but the best treatment is to freely incise them, taking
hold of the larvae with forceps or extracting them by pressure. Simple
cleanliness is sufficient to insure recovery.
The subcutaneous tissue of horses and donkeys gives asylum to larvae
which resemble much those of the hypoderma bovis. These demand the
same preventive and curative treatment.
Filaria may produce in some animals cutaneous helminthiasis. Horses
of Oriental breeds are subject to a special affection characterized by the