Those in which it is feared that malignant action has commenced cannot
be trifled with; and the only means which afford a chance of the
patient’s being effectually delivered from them is an operation. With
a view to their complete extirpation, the external incisions ought
always to be free, so as to admit of the after-dissection being easily
and rapidly performed: they ought also to be made in the direction of
the muscular fibres, whether these lie above or beneath the tumour. In
this way the margins of the wound are easily brought into apposition,
and there retained; whereas, if the fibres be divided transversely,
the wound will gape, and union by the first intention be rendered
absolutely impossible. If there is no reason to suppose that the tumour
is malignant, little or no integument ought to be removed, unless the
growth is of a large size; but, when malignity is dreaded, all the
discoloured, tense, and adherent integument, all that is permeated
by dilated and tortuous vessels, ought to be taken away, and the
incisions made at a distance from the disease. In all cases they ought
to commence at the point where the principal vessels enter; these are
thus divided at the outset, can be readily secured by ligature, or
by the fingers of an assistant, and the dissection is proceeded in
without risk or interruption from farther hemorrhage. If the opposite
course be pursued, the vessels will be divided two or more times during
the operation, and thus the performance of it will either be delayed
by the application of numerous ligatures, or will be attended with
a considerable loss of blood. After the tumour has been exposed it
ought to be principally detached in one direction, as in this way its
removal will be sooner accomplished, and not first cut on one side and
then on another. If malignant, great care should be taken that all the
diseased mass be removed, for a minute portion remaining will form a
nucleus in which similar diseased actions are certain to arise; in most
instances, it will be prudent not only to remove the parts actually
diseased, but those also which are in immediate connection with the
tumour, though at the time they appear healthy. All important parts
must be carefully avoided. After removal of the mass, and the complete
cessation of bleeding, the edges of the wound must be approximated, so
as to favour union by the first intention; if this fail, granulation
must be promoted, and the wound dressed according to the particular
circumstances of the case. All operations on malignant tumours, in
their advanced stages, are unwarrantable; they are necessarily painful
and severe, and cruel because unavailing; they often, indeed, expedite
the dissolution of the patient. If the integuments over the tumour have
ulcerated, and if the lymphatics in the neighbourhood are diseased, the
disease if removed will certainly be reproduced, and the succeeding
tumour will be still more malignant. The operation ought, if at all, to
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