DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF REPEODUCTION IN THE FEMALE 95 



In the case of simple congestion sensibility to the touch is not very 

 marked, and the impression of the finger will not be left upon the enlarged 

 gland, showing the absence of inHamniatory eftusion. Bodily temperature 

 is not appreciably affected, nor is the appetite impaired. 



Where actual inflammation exists, the skin of the affected quarter 

 is very tense and shining, the teat greatly enlarged, and if much red- 

 ness is not seen it is because the skin of this part is commonly very 

 dark in colour. The implicated quarter pits on pressure of the finger, 

 owing to a superficial infiltration of the tissues with fluid exudation. 

 The base of the teat communicates a feeling as of clots or coagula, the 

 presence of which may be confirmed by drawing the teat, or by the 

 introduction of a teat-syphon, when a more or less blood-stained fluid 

 is discovered, containing granulated masses of clotted milk. Pus cells, 

 calostrum, and broken-down epithelium will be found floating in the 

 watery fluid which makes up the bulk of the material coming from an 

 inflamed quarter. In contradistinction to the simple state of congestion 

 above referred to there is more or less constitutional disturbance, the 

 temperature rises considerably, the appetite is somewhat impaired, and 

 there is much local pain. With good management and prompt treat- 

 ment the gland may be restored in the course of a few days, and the 

 secretion of milk re-established gradually. 



Failing success by simple measures, to be presently alluded to, the 

 function of the quarter may be arrested for the season and remain pre- 

 disposed to a similar attack after birth of another foal. A degraded 

 secretion, composed of part milk, and some pus, serum, &c., may continue, 

 but the formation of an abscess is not so likely to occur as when the in- 

 flammation runs high and the teat is altogether occluded from the first 

 by solid matter. Instead of the formation of pus, and the gradual pointing 

 of an abscess, it sometimes happens, especially where the origin was 

 external violence, that the whole quarter dies. Its sensibility is gradually 

 lost, it becomes cold, a line of demarcation is observed between the living _ 

 and dead or dying tissue, and recovery is only possible by the casting off 

 (sloughing) of this gangrenous portion. It need hardly be said that a 

 mare which has lost a quarter should never be put to the stud again. 



The terminations of mammitis may be briefly described as resolution 

 or a return of the organ to a normal condition, induration or hardening, 

 atrophy or wasting, gangrene or death of the gland, or the succumbing 

 of the mare herself to the ravages of the disease. 



Treatment. — The early adoption of remedial measures is of the 

 utmost importance, as in acute cases changes of structure of a permanent 

 and unalterable character take place during the first few days of the malady. 



