INFLAMMATION OF THE UDDER 343 



constitutional disturbance, the cow feeds and appears to be 

 in good health, but the milk contains little masses of curdled 

 material," and one or more of the quarters of the udder be- 

 come enlarged, and possibly painful. " Serious attacks are 

 accompanied by shivering, loss of appetite, rapid breathing 

 and pulses, and a very high temperature (107). The cow 

 straddles her hind legs to prevent pressing on the enlarged 

 udder. The milk is greatly reduced in quantity, and thin, 

 with much curdled matter in it. After a few days it may 

 assume the appearance of pale ale with impurities floating 

 in it. In extremely acute but rare cases mortification or 

 gangrene of the affected quarter sets in with fatal results." 



Treatment. Mild cases are successfully relieved by u fre- 

 quently drawing the milk and massaging the affected quarters 

 with a pretty strong hot solution of some reliable antiseptic, 

 such as Jeyes' or Pearson's fluid or izal a wine-glassful to 

 three pints of water." Lard, goose-grease, or oil may after- 

 wards be rubbed on to prevent cracking. " Poultices are of 

 little practical value, but good results are got from the appli- 

 cation of wool soaked with the antiseptic solution and held 

 against the udder by bands over the cow's back. An aperient 

 with \ oz. of bicarbonate of potash ought, meanwhile, to be 

 administered, and the J-oz. doses of the potash in water 

 should be continued twice daily for a few days. In all cases 

 of acute udder inflammation, if no improvement takes place on 

 or about the fourth day, resort should be had to an injection 

 up the teat of the affected quarters of a solution of boracic 

 acid, 2 per cent., or of chinosol, 2 grains to an ounce, or other 

 antiseptics." 



There is a contagious inflammation of the udder observed 

 in some districts. A hard lump appears at the base of the 

 teat, and rapidly spreads till the whole quarter is involved. 

 The milk is early altered, and it assumes the ale-like appear- 

 ance. This form often spreads to the four quarters, and 

 mostly ends in ruining the bag. 



Yet another form of the disease l attacks cows that have 

 given milk, but are at the time yeld or dry. Heifers with 

 fleshy udders, but which have never bred, have been known, 

 but rarely, to take it. It appears usually in or after hot 

 weather in August, one-quarter of the vessel swelling and 

 1 Locally termed in Scotland " udder-clap." 



