7 16 PA THOLOGY OF PARTURITION, 



progeny, in the act of sucking — then retracted and corrugated when 

 emptied. At the bottom of the folds, the epidermis is rendered soft, and 

 its cells loose and swollen ; these finally, instead of forming a continuous 

 layer capable of protecting the subjacent derm,' give rise to a whitish 

 unctuous pulp, which accumulates at the bottom of the corrugations. 

 When this is removed, a sore is left, and the development of this sore is 

 hastened by cold, which still further corrugates the part, as well as by 

 want of cleanliness, contact with dirty litter or manure, which irritate the 

 organ, besides the act of milking or suction, which extend the sore in 

 length and depth. It may be that certain conditions of the saliva in the 

 young creature also lead to irritation. Cows with voluminous udders 

 and long teats, are often the subjects of this injury. 



Symptoms. 



The sore appears as a more or less deep, narrow, and sinuous ulcer, 

 running transversely around the teat, and having indurated, thickened, 

 raised margins, greyish at the bottom, or very red and erythematous, and 

 containing a variable quantity of the thick unctuous matter just men- 

 tioned. The teat is apparently not much deformed — at least after milk- 

 ing, when it is retracted ; and the fissures might readily pass unperceived. 

 Then it is necessary to draw the end of the teat gently, in order to dis- 

 cover them. 



When superficial, they are not so troublesome as when deep, irritable, 

 and bleeding ; then they are extremely painful, and the animal refuses to 

 be suckled or milked, while attempts to handle the teat cause the crea- 

 ture to offer great resistance. 



These fissures have an almost natural tendency to increase in depth, 

 so long as the young creature is suckled. Sometimes they form at the 

 very extremity of the teat, and the sinus and milk ducts become inflamed, 

 the viscid matter secreted becomes firm and blocks up the canal, which 

 may ultimately be completely obliterated, causing retention of the milk, 

 inflammation of the gland, and perhaps lead to a fatal termination. 



Treatment. 



Fissur-es in the teat should not be neglected, however slight they may 

 appear to be. They might be prevented by cleanliness and care, and 

 keeping the animal from draughts of cold air. It is a good plan, par- 

 ticularly with primiparae, and especially the finer bred Cows, to examine 

 and wash the teats for a short time after parturition, and if there is a 

 tendency to sores, to dress them with some bland substance — as lard, 

 glycerine, or olive-oil. 



When fissures are present, and especially when they are deep, an es- 

 sential condition for their recovery is preventing the progeny from using 

 the affected teat or teats. By this abstention, and the use of the teat- 

 syphon (well disinfected every time) to empty the gland, recovery in the 

 most serious cases is comparatively rapid, and sometimes even sponta- 

 neous. 



P^mollient lotions are generally recommended, and the ordinary fluid 

 is the milk drawn from the teat, which is frequently applied during the 

 day, the part being well cleaned with a soft cloth after each application. 

 This and other mild emollients may be useful when the injuries are very 

 slight and superficial ; but when they are more serious, or a rapid recov- 

 ery is important, then recourse must be had to more efficient remedies. 



