708 TREATMENT OF MAMMITIS. 



logical saline solution may be used. Two injections at an interval 

 of three or four days may be sufficient. After injection, the teat 

 is compressed and the solution is made to penetrate as far as possible 

 by gentle massage of the gland ; half an hour later the fluid is 

 withdrawn. 



In practice, intra-mammary injections are not easily carried 

 out. There may be little accommodation within the udder and 

 in consequence, the injection is immediately returned ; but by 

 carefully emptying the galactophorous sinus before injection, six 

 to twelve oimces of fluid can be forced into each quarter. 



When suppuration occurs, attempts should be made to remove 

 the pus through the teat, but as soon as an abscess appears under 

 the skin it should be opened and the cavity cleansed and disinfected. 

 Vesicants hasten the development of the abscess and facilitate 

 puncture. 



Gangrene, in some cases, can be prevented by timeous scarifi- 

 cation of the threatened gland ; but when it has become established 

 medical treatment is seldom of much value, and operation offers 

 the only hope of saving life. Partial amputation becomes necessary 

 when necrosis occurs during the progress of an attack of mastitis. 

 Practitioners should, however, be cautious, and only operate where 

 necrosis is circumscribed. Unless signs of demarcation are visible 

 partial amputation is very liable to prove disastrous. The operation 

 succeeds best in cows. In them one-half of the udder can be 

 removed without septic processes extending to the other half, the 

 suspensory apparatus forming a very effective septum between 

 the two portions. 



Total amputation is justifiable in acute forms of mastitis if thereby 

 the process can be terminated. This is the case in the severe 

 gangrenous forms in ewes and cows, where, save for operation, death 

 is almost certain. Strict antisepsis is necessary. The patient 

 should be secured in the dorsal position, the hocks flexed and held well 

 apart. Two incisions, one on each side, are made from before 

 backwards, so as to include the four teats in the flap of skin, which 

 is left attached to the udder between the incisions. All vessels. 

 including the veins, must be ligatured t<> prevent secondary bleeding. 

 After dividing the skin, dissection is carried on with the fingers, 

 a director or other blunt instrument, until the udder only remains 

 adherent to the suspensory ligament, which is then divided. The 

 cavity is freely powdered with iodoform, rilled with sterilised 

 tampons of tow or cotton wool, and the edges brought together with 

 sutures, which may be left in position for forty-eight hours. After 



