Mastitis. g]^ 



The amount of milk sugar as a rule is reduced, and rises only with the appearance 

 of recovery. 



The solids are likewise usually diminished ; the fat-free substance is also and only 

 becomes increased after signs of recovery have been noticed. 



The amount of proteid coagulable by heat frequently increases enormously, as 

 compared with the contents of casein which diminishes. 



The ash content on the average is increased. Eelative to the composition of 

 the ash the data appear to te contradictory. Although Seel found in 15 cases out of 18 

 a diminution of chlorides against an increased quantity of P2O 5 Mezger, Fuchs and Jesser 

 observed an increase of the chlorine content and a diminution of the phosphoric acid, 

 while Steinegger and Allemann found that the amount of P 2 O 5 , CaO, KoO and MgO 

 diminishes, in general, while the quantity of CL, No 2 O and SO 3 increases. According to 

 Hashimoto the ash of abnormal milk closely approaches the ash of blood serum (0.78%) 

 consisting of 8.9863 K 2 O; 36.544 Na 2 O; 7.44 CaO: 1.738 MgO: 17.380 P 2 Or, and 

 33.627% CL 



The reaction of affected milk is mostly alkaline (Seel, Merger, Fuchs and Jesser, 

 Hoyberg, Auzinger, Ernst), or more rarely acid (Zschokke, Henkel, Wyssmann and 

 Peter, Ernst). The determination of acidity is recommended by Plant as a means for 

 the diagnosis of udder affections. 



Independently from the degree of acidity, the coagulability on the addition of 

 alcohol is frequently considerably increased but not always, and in some cases not con- 

 stantly. (Henkel, Rullmann and Trommsdorff, Auzinger). 



The refractability of the calcium chloride serum not infrequently suffers con- 

 siderable changes upward and downward. Eipper, Ertel, Mairhofer, Schnorf, Mai and 

 Rothenfusster, Henkel, Mezger, Fuchs and Jesser found considerable changes in this 

 respect and proved that the daily variations in the refraction may be very great in milk 

 of individual quarters, and even in the full milk of an animal. Frequently however the 

 refraction of the calcium chloride serum shows no change when compared with the 

 milk of healthy animals. 



The same variation obtains in the lowering of the freezing point of milk from 

 affected quarters; the values may be considerably higher than that of healthy milk, 

 or on the other hand they may be lower. More frequently a high value is observed 

 (Schorf, Quirand and Laserre, Crispo, Bertozzi, Pins). According to Schnorf the elec- 

 trical conductivity is always increased, never normal or lower. According to Bonnema 

 the increase of chlorides results in an increase of the electrical conductivity. 



A change in the contents of original ferments appears very 

 early during the affection, together with an increase of cellular 

 elements, especially leucocytes (Zschokke, Bergey, Trommsdorff 

 and Rullmann), and fibrinous flakes (Doane, Eussell and 

 Hoffmann). 



According to Konirig the increase of the catalase content in 

 freshly obtained milk is an indication of the affection of the ud- 

 der, provided the colostral period has passed. The publications 

 of Spindlers and Rullmann (who were enabled to obtain asepti- 

 cally milked samples with which to work) and the author's obser- 

 vations confirm Koning's findings. The author observed that in 

 slight, local affections of a chronic nature, without febrile mani- 

 festations, the content of catalase usually runs parallel with the cell 

 content, and it rises when there is an especially marked throwing 

 off of epithelia (presence of typical colostral cells). 



The faculty of splitting up added starch solution likewise in- 

 creases in milk from affected udders as compared with that from 

 healthy udders. There are no observations relative to the quanti- 

 tative effects of peroxydase. According to Weichel the peroxy- 

 dase content of affected milk from an artifically affected goat dis- 

 appeared, whereas the healthy milk gave the guaiac reaction. 



6 



