These are much more rare than cystic tumors. They seldom maintain the
character of perfect solidity, for whether fibrous, sarcomatous,
melanotic, cretaceous, myomatous, cancerous, epithelial, tubercular,
glanderous, or actinomycotic, they are usually associated with cysts to
a greater or less extent. Not only are they liable to stimulate the
formation of cysts, but the special heteroplasia may become engrafted on
the walls of pre-existing cysts, as well as on normal tissues.
The _symptoms_ of the solid tumors are in the main, those of the cystic
form, and _treatment_ resolves itself into extirpation by castration.
Its success will vary according to the nature of the tumor, sarcoma,
melanoma and carcinoma being especially liable to recur in the same or
in distant situations, and the same is true of the colonizing with
infectious germs (glanders, tuberculosis, actinomycosis) which are
presumably already present in other parts of the body. Castration has,
however, this recommendation, it secures the removal of the entire
diseased organ, and if the morbid process or infection is confined to
that only, it holds out the best prospect of recovery.