g4 Effect of Internal Influences. 



through the physiologically dry period, and the affection re-ap- 

 pears immediately after parturition. 



The destruction of all streptococci involves a difficult task for 

 the entire body. The dissolution of the streptococci progresses 

 only very slowly even in actively or passively immunized animals. 

 Living streptococci may be demonstrated in the abdominal cavity 

 of test animals, many hours after an intra-peritoneal injection. 

 Not infrequently a delayed death appears in apparently recovered 

 animals (v. Lingelsheim). The long streptococci appear to rep- 

 resent specially adapted forms which have great tenacity. Never- 

 theless at times recovery takes place. According to Zschokke the 

 relation between recovered and unrecovered cases is as 7 :5. 



According to the experience of the author in practice, infectious 

 mastitis is not curable, or only with the greatest difficulty, and if 

 so, always with a loss of productiveness, which even remains after 

 the physiologically dry period. The chronic irritation causes a 

 change in the connective tissue structure of the parenchyma of the 

 udder so that the usual development of the gland during pregnancy 

 cannot take place. The principal aim in treatment therefore 

 should be prompt drying of the suspected udder, in order to make 

 possible the most rapid and most complete recovery, which, ac- 

 cording to Zschokke may be expected only when the quarter has 

 been allowed to remain dry for a long time. 



This is also necessary in order to prevent a spread of the 

 disease, which is to be feared since the hands of the milkers and 

 milking upon the straw may transmit the infective agent to other 

 quarters. Care should be taken therefore to keep the milk from 

 the healthy quarters of the udder separate from the secretion of 

 the affected quarter. 



As long as the most primitive requirements of clean milk 

 production on the part of the milkers are so carelessly neglected, 

 which unfortunately has been the case up to the present, the im- 

 mediate drying of the affected quarter offers the only means of 

 preventing the further spread of the disease. 



If, however, there is assurance that the affected animal or the affected quarter, 

 respectively, is individually milked, and the milkers follow instructions, an attempt 

 may be made by special frequent milking (into a jar) to produce a hyperemia of the 

 udder. With this method success can only be expected in the early stages. 



The extent of the spread of the disease may become obvious 

 by the findings after examination of individual herds. In such 

 cases it is necessary to milk each cow, or still better each quarter, 

 separately. The results vary, depending on the technique of the 

 examination. The lowest number of affections is obtained when 

 only a clinical examination is made. This therefore does not suffice 

 in order to eradicate the disease effectively, or to single out the 

 affected animals. The data of the different authors vary relative 

 to its occurrence. The following figures are given which were 

 obtained by systematic examinations of entire herds. 



