MAMMITIS OR MASTITIS. 697 



sensitive to manipulation. The swelling is rather ceclematous super- 

 ficially, but deeper the tissue of the gland is found to be somewhat 

 harder, and towards the teat rather lumpy, from the presence of coagula 

 of casein. 



By mulsion, a rose or red-tinted fluid is obtained, which looks like 

 decomposed clotted milk. 



With careful and frequent milking, and attention to diet and hygiene, 

 complete resolution may take place within three or four days ; the secre- 

 tion gradually becomes normal in quantity and quality, though for more 

 days it may contain numerous colostrum and pus globules. If neglected, 

 however, or mismanaged in treatment, the inflammation may become 

 more serious, and attack the milk vesicles and their parenchyma — the 

 real glandular tissues — giving rise to parenchymatous mammitis ; or it 

 may remain localized, though increasing in intensity. Then the secre- 

 tion of milk is greatly diminished in the gland, and what is withdrawn 

 by mulsion is altered — containing, as it does, mucus, pus, and clots, all 

 emitting a highly ammoniacal odor. 



This catarrhal condition may continue for a considerable time, and it 

 may happen that the matter contained in the sinuses and ducts, becom- 

 ing inspissated, escapes from the teat with difficulty, or not at all ; so 

 that, in accumulating in these cavities, it forms deposits — half milk, half 

 pus — which are oftentimes considerable. When they have acquired a 

 certain volume, these deposits break up and escape, either through the 

 teats, or by ulceration of the walls of the duct. When opened by means 

 of the lancet, these "lacteal abscesses " discharge a large quantity of 

 foetid matter. Then the general phenomena disappear, the tumefaction 

 and sensibility diminish, the suppuration — though it may persist for some 

 time — gradually decreases, and the normal secretion of milk is finally 

 established. In other instances, all the symptoms disappear except the 

 clotted character of the milk, and the tendency of this fluid to coagulate 

 in the ducts and sinuses. There it may form solid masses or concre- 

 tions of variable size — from a pea to that of a nut — which become dense 

 as dried cheese, or hard almost as a stone. They are sometimes cylin- 

 drical in shape, at other times elongated, being moulded by the part in 

 which they are formed ; they are usually movable, and may be displaced 

 in the operation of milking ; but they always constitute a more or less 

 serious obstacle to the flow of milk. When situated at the lower end of 

 the teat, they almost entirely obstruct the canal ; higher, they render the 

 flow of milk more or less difficult, and in all cases they may give rise to 

 extreme distention of the gland, and lead to the formation of abscesses 

 or parenchymatous inflammation. 



The. phlegmonous mammitis described by Saint-Cyr, is always more seri- 

 ous than the catarrhal form. It commences with several generally very 

 well-marked febrile symptoms : the animal is dull, loses its appetite, and 

 ceases to ruminate ; the temperature is elevated, the pulse becomes fre- 

 quent and quick, etc. These symptoms of general disturbance, accord- 

 ing to some authorities, may manifest themselves three or four days 

 before the local disorder, and occasionally diminish considerably when 

 the latter appears ; though Saint-Cyr correctly states that this rule has 

 numerous exceptions. What is certain, is that there are rigors and un- 

 mistakable indications of general febrile reaction at the very commence- 

 ment of phlegmonous mammitis. 



In a very brief period the udder acquires a considerable, sometimes a 



