BOTRYOMY COSTS OF THE UDDER. 715 



painless swelling of the udder, which becomes hard and knotted, 

 and from time to time is 1 he seal of circumscribed acute inflammatory 

 swellings. These break and discharge pus containing botryomyces 

 colonies. The wounds may heal, or may be succeeded by sinuses, 

 but the udder steadily increases in size. Gradually the process may 

 extend to the thigh and abdominal wall, producing like changes. 



Diagnosis is easy, provided the pus be microscopically examined. 



Prognosis depends on the degree of the disease. If the udder 

 alone be invaded, recovery may follow amputation. Otherwise, 

 nothing can be done, and the animal must eventually be 

 slaughtered. 



Treatment generally necessitates total amputation of the udder. 

 Partial ablation is liable to be followed by recurrence of the disease. 

 Treatment with potassium iodide has hitherto proved ineffectual. 



Moller has repeatedly amputated the udder in the following 

 manner :■— 



The mare is cast, the feet are bound to the sides, and the point 

 of operation is thoroughly cleansed. Wherever the skin appears 

 adherent to subjacent tissues, it must be removed by cutting round 

 the affected spot. The non-adherent portions of skin are separated 

 from the udder, and the latter or its diseased parts separated 

 from their adhesions to the abdominal wall by breaking down the 

 loose connective tissue with the fingers. Any large vessels must be 

 ligatured. To facilitate examination of the depths of the wound, 

 and the discovery of arterial branches lying there, all bleeding must 

 be carefully checked by ligaturing vessels as one proceeds. Any 

 remaining adhesions of the udder to the abdominal wall may then 

 be included in one large ligature, and the organ cut away. 



The parts are afterwards rinsed out with carbolic or sublimate 

 solution ; vessels still bleeding are tied, the cavity filled with 

 carbolised tow, and the edges of the skin brought together with a 

 few stitches, so as to keep the dressing in position. The stitches 

 and tampons are removed next day, any blood washed out, and the 

 surface of the wound, which is then left open, powdered with 

 iodoform-tannin. The wound often dries up rapidly and a scab 

 forms, under which healing takes place without difficulty, and without 

 requiring further interference, in about fourteen days. Considering 

 how favourable the position is for drainage, it will readily be under- 

 stood why wound fever so rarely occurs. Deupser amputated a 

 cow's udder in the above way on account of gangrenous mastitis. 



