MAMMITIS OR MASTITIS. 693 



CHAPTER IX 



Mammitis or Mastitis. 



In treating of pregnancy, we alluded to the function of the mammae, and 

 pointed out that this function — except in rare cases, when it may be in 

 operation independent of pregnancy or the parturient period, and even 

 manifest itself in the male sex — is in mammals peculiar to the period of 

 parturition and rearing of the young. Some time before the progeny are 

 born, the mammae begin to enlarge, to become pendulous, and their density 

 increases ; they are more often vascular ; if not marked by dark pigment, 

 their color is observed to have changed, and the teats are considerably 

 developed. So that, at parturition, the glands have attained dimensions 

 and offer appearances very different to those they exhibited a short time 

 previously ; while the fluid — the milk — provided by Nature for the suste- 

 nance of the young creature after birth, is secreted in more or less con- 

 siderable quantity — generally in proportion to the development of the 

 mammag. 



With the exception of some species — such as the Cow and Goat, some- 

 times the Ewe and Ass (and also the Mare among the Khirgiz), in which 

 the secretion is maintained artificially for some time beyond its natural 

 duration, and, with the former animal especially, almost permanently — 

 the function is essentially intermittent: being most active during the 

 parturient or, if we may use the term, " puerperal " period, and ceasing 

 ^when the progeny no longer require milk. It is during this period that 

 the activity of the mammae exercise so much influence on the health of 

 parent and offspring, and it is also at this time that these glands are most 

 liable to derangements, which are more or less serious. Even their 

 normal physiological development, when it occurs rapidly and considera- 

 bly, under certain conditions, often occasions uneasiness and pain. The 

 temperature of the glands is increased, and they are much more sensitive 

 than usual. But this disturbance is usually ephemeral, and rarely con- 

 tinues for more than a day or two. It may be relieved by " stripping " 

 the teats — the importance of which, as a preventive of parturient apo- 

 plexy in deep-milkers and plethoric Cows, we have already pointed out — 

 rubbing the udder with olive-oil, or fomenting it with decoction of marsh- 

 mallows. This might be termed the nor?na I ov physiological ewgoxgQVi\Q.nt 

 of the mammae ; but there is also a pathological engorgement, to which 

 attention has been drawn by various writers, and particularly by Ztindel, 

 and to this we will now refer, as it is often the commencement of inflam- 

 mation of these glands. 



Pathological Congestion of the Mamm^. 



Hyperaemia or congestion of the mammae is not very uncommon, and 

 all female animals are liable to it ; though it is most frequently observed 

 in the Cow, Mare, Ewe, and Bitch, in degrees varying rather with the 

 causes which determine, than the phenomena that accompany it. 



Causes. 



Congestion of the mammae is due to various causes : among which may 

 be cited injuries, exposure to cold air or water, or over-repletion — the 

 stings of insects have also been blamed. There is generally a sympa- 

 thetic excitement existing at this time, either from the animal having 



