190 THE NATURE ANB TREATMENT OF 



prone to, and suffer from, and its terminations, when not ar- 

 rested in the early stage, are exactly the same ; viz., suppura- 

 tion, formation of an abscess, induration, or hardening of 

 the walls of the bag. In the human female the suppurative 

 stage is known to nurses as " broken breast ; " and the state of 

 induration or hardening, which follows, or may exist indepen- 

 dent of an abscess, is commonly called " caked " breast ; hence 

 the term caked udder. Such is the character of this disease 

 as it occurs among cows in the United States. In Europe it 

 occasionally assumes a more malignant form, and it often be- 

 comes necessary to extirpate the whole gland ! 



" Treatment of Mammitis or Inflamed Udder. — The disease 

 should be attended to in its early stage, and the milk must be 

 evacuated, so that it shall not accumulate nor coagulate. In 

 order to do this a metallic tube may be inserted into the teat, 

 and allowed to remain there, so that the milk shall flow as fast 

 as it is secreted. The inflamed part must be bathed with cold 

 water several times during the day, to which add a few drops 

 of tincture of arnica, and if the part be very painful, an in- 

 fusion of hops may be used. Afterwards anoint the parts 

 with a small quantity of glycerine. 



" The animal must be kept on a very light diet (scalded shorts 

 are good), and if she be fat, or the least constipation of bowels 

 exist, I should give one pound of epsom salts, dissolved in 

 warm water, to which may be added a small quantity of molas- 

 ses, and a tea-spoonful of ginger. 



" Supposing tl^ case to be in the suppurative stage, and it is 

 evident that pus or " matter" is forming within the " bag," or 

 its walls, it may be poulticed with flax-seed, or rubbed twice, 

 daily, with some stimulating liniment, say linseed oil, two 

 ounces ; spirits of hartshorn, one drachm. So soon as the mat- 

 ter burrows to the surface, and a soft spot can be detected, it 

 should have a free opening made into it by means of a thumb 

 lancet ; the matter must then be squeezed out, and into the 

 cavity syringe some salt and water, or a little tincture of aloes. 

 In the suppurative stage I generally order a generous diet. 



"In the indurated stage the treatment consists in exciting ab- 



