CHRONIC MAMMITIS. 709 



this time sutures and tampons can be removed and the parts treated 

 as an open wound. Healing sometimes occurs under a dry scab 

 if iodoform-tannin be freely used. 



(4.) CHRONIC MAMMITIS 



May result from an acute attack, or it may arise from infection at 

 any time during or after the period of lactation. Frequently it is 

 discovered immediately after calving, when the cow should be in 

 full milk. The milker finds one quarter of the udder more or less 

 indurated and " weak," that is, giving little milk, or only a fluid 

 of doubtful character. When chronic mammitis follows an acute 

 attack the constitutional symptoms of the primary affection 

 gradually decline and disappear, but the affected quarter does not 

 resume its function ; the secretion of milk is almost entirely sus- 

 pended, and traction of the teat produces a watery fluid with some 

 curd, which may be blood stained. Induration, partial or diffused, 

 follows and eventually the gland becomes atrophied with complete 

 loss of function. Abscess formation is rare ; though sometimes 

 pus is found in the fluid obtained from the affected quarter. 



Treatment is almost useless in chronic mammitis. In cases 

 associated with purulent catarrh antiseptic injections may be tried, 

 or the teat may be excised. Removal of the teat gives free and 

 continuous escape to the pus, and probably hastens fattening. If 

 only one quarter is indurated and atrophied, the cow may be kept 

 with profit, but when two or three quarters are affected the animal 

 should be prepared for slaughter. Vesicants, ointments of iodine, 

 mercurials, etc., applied to the defective gland seldom prove beneficial. 



(5.) CONTAGIOUS MAMMITIS. STREPTOCOCCIC MASTITIS. 



This disease was recognised as early as 1882 by Gerlach in Berlin. 

 Kitt, in 1885, named it " Contagious Catarrhal Agalaxia ; " and in 

 1888 Hess and Borgeaud described it under the title of " Gelber 

 Gait." The cause, however, was unknown before the investigation 

 of Nocard and Mollereau, who found, in 1884, the specific strepto- 

 coccus, a discovery which was subsequently confirmed by others 

 in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, and England. 



Contagious mammitis of milch cows always assumes a chronic 

 course. Infection takes place through the teat canal, and the 

 contagium is transmitted from the diseased quarter to healthy 

 sections of the udder, or from one cow to another by the hands of 



