It is not every tumour of the teats that becomes schirrous or cancerous. Some of them seem to be composed of mere masses of fat that have been separated from the neighbouring substance. These are termed adipose tumours. They seldom grow to any very large size, and they. never ulcerate. They are not. often attached to the teats; they are more between them, and they may be known by their uniform smoothness and softness.

Encysted Tumours Of The Teats

Other enlargements, belonging more to the teats, are called encysted tumours; They are composed of a cyst including a fluid of uncertain character. , An enormous tumour may sometimes be of this nature composed of a single cyst These tumours occasionally ulcerate, but the ulcer does not become of a malignant nature. They are always plainly distinguishable from the schirrous tumour by the, greater evenness of their surface, and by their not possessing the peculiar unyielding character of the schirrous tumour.

Some have recommended the passing of a seton through tumours of this nature. Good is rarely effected by this, and a degree of irritation has occasionally been produced that has been fatal to the animal.

The compound encysted tumour is more common than the simple one. One cyst being formed, another unites itself to it, or seems to grow upon it, and another and another follows, until there is an accumulation of them that makes the whole bulk of an enormous size. This species of tumour never breaks, but, when it. hangs down upon or rubs- against the ground, it occasionally becomes ulcerated, and the ulceration assumes a malignant character by a repetition of the cause of irritation.

A seton will be of no service here, for it cannot be passed through all the cysts. Both the simple and the compound encysted tumour will be best removed by means of the knife.