MAMMITIS OR MASTITIS. 713 



closing too early — which it may do when the abscess has been opened by 

 the bistoury, it will be necessary to introduce a small tent of lint or fine 

 tow. 



Sometimes several abscesses are developed simultaneously or succes- 

 sively in the tumor, and are separated from each other by thin septa. In 

 such a case, having opened the largest abscess, it often happens that the 

 pus from the others drains through the opening, converting it into a fistula. 

 In such circumstances, a counter-opening must be made ; and if there is 

 any necrotic tissue to be found, it should be removed. In all operations 

 on the mammary glands, the incisions should be carefully made, and no 

 larger than is absolutely necessary. 



When the abscesses are deep-seated in the texture of the gland or the 

 connective tissue, it frequently happens that, in opening them, one or 

 perhaps more of the milk ducts are wounded, and then we may have 

 " lacteal fistulte." From these the milk escapes, and renders their cica- 

 trization difficult and tedious, if the gland is active. The treatment must 

 chiefly consist in the application of caustics to the walls of the fistulae, 

 in order to hasten granulation — the nitrate of silver, chloride of zinc, 

 tincture of iodine, or even the actual cautery, being generally resorted to. 

 Soriietimes a cure cannot be effected until the gland hae become " dry." 

 In some cases a pitch plaster or one of marine glue is useful, or the 

 pressure of a broad elastic band when the fistula is situated at the base 

 of the teat. 



The occurrence of gangrene is always serious, though of course it is 

 not so grave when limited than when diffuse. It generally leads to the 

 loss of one or more quarters, or even to the death of the animal from 

 icorrhaemia or septikaemia. When limited, little can be done, and in 

 some cases it is best to wait for the spontaneous elimination of the dead 

 portion : waiting and watching the process, supporting the strength of the 

 animal, accelerating the separation of the dead from the living tissues, 

 favoring the free escape of pus and putrid matters, so as to hinder their 

 absorption, making counter-openings, and applying antiseptic dressings 

 — as chloride of zinc, carbolic acid, permanganate of potash. 



In other cases, it may be necessary to expedite recovery by excision of 

 the mortified mass. In order to do this, it is sometimes, but not always, 

 requisite to cast the animal, and to fix it as for castration. The opening 

 by which the pus escapes is enlarged, and the tissues still adhering to the 

 living parts of the gland are separated from it by the fingers, keeping 

 clear as much as possible of the arteries, which should be ligatured, if 

 injured. When the separation is complete, ligatures may be placed 

 round the principal vessels — the ligature being a piece of narrow tape or 

 ribbon, as their walls are fragile and easily torn. If any haemorrhage oc- 

 curs, the actual cautery or perchloride of iron may be employed to sub- 

 due it. The wound is then to be dressed with disinfecting and stimula- 

 ting applications, until it ceases to give off a bad odor, and is throwing 

 out healthy granulations. The animal must be well fed, and its strength 

 sustained by stimulants and tonics if necessary. 



When the gangrene threatens to become diffuse, there must be no hesi- 

 tation in resorting to deep scarifications, in order to limit its ravages ; 

 these allow the escape of the septic fluids, which would impregnate the 

 healthy tissues if permitted to remain ; and the isolation of the diseased 

 parts may be still further secured by plunging the actual cautery deeply 

 into them, and applying oil of turpentine, carbolic acid, perchloride of iron, 



