200 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



nerves of the hind limbs by a large calf passing through the pelvis. 

 Its symptoms do not differ from those of palsy of the hind limbs, 

 occurring at other times, and it may be treated in the same way, ex- 

 cepting so far as bruises of the vagina may demand special soothing 

 treatment. 



CONGESTION OF THE UDDER (GARGET). 



In heavy milkers, before and just after calving, it is the rule 

 that the mammary gland is enlarged, hot, tense and tender, and that 

 a slight exudation or pasty swelling extends forward from the gland 

 on the lower surface of the abdomen. This physiological congestion 

 is looked upon as a matter of course, and disappears in two or three 

 days when the secretion of milk has been fully established. This 

 breaking up of the bag may be greatly hastened by the sucking of a 

 hungry calf and the kneading it gives the udder with its nose, by 

 stripping the glands clean thrice daily, and by active rubbing at each 

 milking with the palm of the hand, with or without lard, or, better, 

 with camphorated ointment. 



The congestion may be at times aggravated by standing in a 

 draft of cold air or by neglect to milk for an entire day or more 

 (overstocking, hefting) with the view of making a great show of 

 udder for purposes of sale. In such cases the surface of the bag pits 

 on pressure, and the milk has a reddish tinge or even streaks of blood, 

 or it is partially or fully clotted and is drawn with difficulty, mixed, 

 it may be, with a yellowish serum (whey) which has separated from, 

 the casein. This should be treated like the above, though it may 

 sometimes demand fomentations with warm water to ward off in- 

 flammation, and it may be a week before the natural condition of the 

 gland is restored. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE UDDER (SIMPLE MAMMITIS) . 



Congestion may merge into active inflammation, or it may arise 

 direct, in connection with exposure to cold or wet, with standing in 

 a cold draft, with blows on the udder with clubs, stones, horns, or 

 feet, with injury from a sharp or cold stone, or the projecting edge 

 of a board or end of a nail in the floor, with sudden and extreme 

 changes of weather, with overfeeding on rich albuminous food like 

 cotton seed, beans, or pease, with indigestions, with sores on the 

 teats, or with insufficient stripping of the udder in milking. In the 

 period of full milk the organ is so susceptible that any serious dis- 

 turbance of the general health is liable to fall upon the udder. 



Symptoms. The symptoms and mode of onset vary in different 

 cases.^ When following exposure there is usually a violent shivering 

 fit, with cold horns, ears, tail and limbs, and general erection of the 

 hair. This is succeeded by a flush of heat (reaction) in which the 

 horns, ears, and limbs become unnaturally warm and the gland 

 swells up and becomes firm and solid in one, two, three, or all four 

 quarters. There is hot, dry muzzle, elevated temperature, full, ac- 

 celerated pulse, and excited breathing, impaired or suspended appe- 

 tite, and rumination with more or less costiveness, suppression of 

 urine, and a lessened yield of milk, which may be entirely sup- 

 pressed in the affected quarter. 



