578 DISEASES OF THE MAMMARY GLANDS. 



been made to l:)leeding because acute mammitis bas been proved to be 

 of an infectious character, and, therefore, it is undesirable to lower 

 the patients' resisting power. 



This reasoning, however, appears to be erroneous. Little by little 

 the advantages of bleeding, both in intoxications and infections, have 

 been recognised, and one thing at least is beyond dispute, namely, its 

 action on fever. Undoubtedly, it must not be resorted to without 

 judgment, nor should it be freely employed in debilitated animals ; 

 but in well-nourished patients its effect on fever and on the accom- 

 panying respiratory and circulatory disturbance is immediate. 

 We, therefore, recommend moderate bleeding from the jugular. 

 Bleeding from the mammary vein entails too great a risk of infection 

 to be commendable. 



Purgatives and diuretics diminish or prevent accidents such as 

 intoxication and the complications resulting from temporary suspen- 

 sion of the digestive function. 



Local treatment is more or less efficacious in mammary infection. 

 To relieve pain and check infection it should be of an emollient and 

 antiseptic character. Ointments containing 10 per cent, of carbolic 

 acid, boric acid or iodine, or 12|^ per cent, of camphor, opium or 

 belladonna, are of real service during the first stages, particularly of 

 mammary lymphangitis and interstitial mammitis. 



Repeated applications of 10 per cent, carbolic-glycerine have similar 

 advantages. 



In the less acute forms originating in the parenchymatous tissue, 

 mild ointments of plumbic iodide, Goulard's extract, or mercury 

 may also be used if precautions are taken to prevent the animals 

 from licking, and so poisoning themselves. 



When the tendency to suppuration is marked, vesicants hasten 

 the development of the abscess and facilitate puncture. The most 

 commonly used are the 33 per cent, tartar emetic ointment or the 

 10 per cent, biniodide of mercury ointment. 



If, on the other hand, the mammitis is of the interstitial type, 

 with severe subcutaneous oedema, extending over the belly and 

 towards the perineum, good results often follow deep firing in points 

 over the swollen region. The points should be widely spaced, venous 

 branches being avoided. In this way numerous ducts are formed by 

 by wdiich the toxic and septic liquid which causes the cedema is enabled 

 to escape. 



This method of treatment can be supplemented by the simultaneous 

 use of antiseptic ointments. 



Finally, in mammitis of the parenchymatous type, wdiere there 

 is no marked tendency to invade the interstitial tissue, the most 



