GARGET MAMMITIS. 281 



milking the cow when her iidder is almost ready to burst, 

 even before calving. In a word, if the udder, teats and 

 milk ducts are kept from over-gorgement, there can be no 

 udder disease. The trouble is, that all cows are not alike 

 in the production of milk, but unfortunately they receive 

 the same treatment; and hence those cows which are 

 endowed with great milking qualities are usually the 

 victims of garget. 



Symptoms. Heat, redness and pain, followed in a day or 

 so by elevated swellings, Avhich, if acute, will grow to a 

 point, becoming soft and fluctuating, and containing pus; 

 and if not opened at this stage, fistulous sores will be 

 formed, which may cause the final destritction of one por- 

 tion of the udder. 



When the heat and redness is not followed by swelling 

 containing pus, it is called chronic garget. In addition to 

 these symptoms, the cow will have shivers and chills, not 

 from cold, but from the muscular rigor which is set up in 

 cases of extensive suppuration. 



Treatment. In the acute form, apply warm poultices to 

 hasten suppuration or heeling. Where the parts point, and 

 contain fluid or pus, open deeply at the lowest point, that 

 the pus may escape without forcing. When properly dis- 

 charged, heal as for a common sore. (See Ointments in 

 the part of this book treating upon Horse and Cattle 

 Medicines.) For chronic garget, use a cold application, 

 so as to put it back, if possible; if not, hasten the suppura- 

 tive process, and treat as for the acute form. A\^hatever 

 treatment may be adopted, by all means do not forget to 

 milk the udder severely , and the best plan will be to put 

 two strong calves to suck, for by so doing the pus may be 

 drawn off by them. 



