694 ^^ THOL OG Y OF PAR TURITION. 



been immediately or recently delivered, or even when it is in oestrum. 

 Most frequently, however, it occurs either when the progeny cannot 

 empty the glands, when it has been removed from the parent, or when 

 the latter has not been milked at the proper time. The tendency of the 

 mammas to become engorged when the lacteal secretion is not removed, 

 is often made available with a fraudulent motive, when disposing of Cows 

 for milking purposes. The milk is not withdrawn for some time, the 

 glands become greatly distended, and assume an excessive development 

 ("over-stocking"), which may impose upon the unwary, and give rise 

 to the belief that the animal possesses extraordinary lactiferous proper- 

 ties. Franck is of opinion that this congestion may be due to obstruction 

 of the circulation in the posterior vena cava, towards the end of pregnancy. 

 It may also arise from obstruction in the milk ducts. 



Symptoms. 



When the congestion is due to accumulation of milk, the symptoms 

 are, of course, only gradually developed ; but if arising from injury, then 

 they may appear suddenly, a certain part becoming all at once swollen, 

 hard, and tense, but without altogether losing its softness and elasticity. 

 There is neither redness nor great sensibility j the swelling is not oedem- 

 atous, and does not *' pit ; " there is but little fever, and the appetite is not 

 much affected. 



An important consideration in these affections of the mammae, is that 

 relating to their anatomy. As we have shown at pages 31-34, in the 

 Mare, Ewe, and Goat, they are formed of two perfectly distinct glands 

 placed together in the inguinal region ; while in the Cow they are com- 

 . posed of at least four glands or "quarters " in close contact, and appar- 

 ently forming one mass in the prepubic region ; and in the Sow, Bitch, 

 and Cat, they are numerous and distinct from each other, and extend 

 from the inguinal to the thoracic region. When we know that all the 

 glands may become congested or inflamed, or only one — or even only a 

 certain number of acini in each gland — we see at once that morbid con- 

 ditions may give rise to very diverse symptoms, due to these anatomical 

 peculiarities. 



With the Cow, congestion may, therefore, be limited to one gland or 

 " quarter ; " though at the commencement the whole udder may be 

 swollen, and localization only occur at a later period. The same is 

 Observed with the Bitch and all the other animals with numerous mam- 

 mae : there is always at first general engorgement, before it is finally 

 localized. The tumefaction partakes somewhat of oedema, from its read- 

 iness to pit on pressure, and there is often a doughy swelling around the 

 udder, which, in some instances, extends to the other parts of the abdo- 

 men. The latter symptom is most noticeable in Mares, in which, in the 

 course of a few days, the mammary swelling altogether disappears, leav- 

 ing only an oedematous tumor towards the umbilicus. 



The secretion of milk is diminished ; at first it may be normal in con- 

 sistence, and exceptionally it may offer streaks of blood, which give it 

 more or less of a rose tint. When this condition continues, however, its 

 degree of fluidity is changed, and it becomes lumpy and clotted, being 

 partially coagulated in the lactiferous sinuses and canals, and the coag- 

 ula of casein are evacuated at the same time as the other portions of the 

 milk, which is sometimes nothing but pure viscid, yellowish serum, hav- 

 ing a sweet taste j sometimes these coagula — round or cylindrical masses 



