992 Veterinary Obstetrics 



As we have already stated in discussing the subject of maui- 

 mitis, suppurating wounds of the active udder or teats possess 

 great danger for the integrity of the gland because of their ten- 

 dency to produce manimitis. Penetrant wounds of the milk 

 cistern or deep wounds near the apex of the teat in milk cows are 

 especially dangerous. 



In the absence of a penetrant wound, the pus flows down over 

 the teat to the teat orifice, and thence the infection passes up into 

 the cistern; or the careless dairyman, finding the cow nervous 

 or unruly because of the sensitive and painful teat, resorts to 

 the milk tube for withdrawing the milk. The milk tube, 

 probably already filthy from prior use, becomes contaminated 

 further as it is being inserted, and carries infection up into the 

 cistern. 



Such contamination is preventable only by the strictest possible 

 precautions, consisting of the thorough disinfection of the teat- 

 wound, the entire teat, and the hands of the operator ; and the 

 sterilization of the milk tube. Even then the teat orifice may 

 contain virulent organisms to be pushed up into the cistern on 

 the end of the milk tube. 



It would be far better to aspirate the milk from the wounded 

 teat by means of a cupping glass. It would cause much less pain 

 to the cow, and would permit far better asepsis. 



Vennerholm suggests that, when wounds of the teats are very 

 sensitive, there should be applied to them a 5 % solution of cocaine 

 at milking time, in order that the process may be carried out 

 without causing pain. The pain of milking can always be re- 

 duced greatly by first bathing the part with warm water, to which 

 has been added a small amount of carbolic acid. After milking, 

 the wound should always be carefully^dressed with the most re- 

 liable antiseptics, for which purpose we recommend equal parts 

 of tincture of iodide, tincture of arnica and glycerine. 



22. Warts on the Teats. 



Warts on the teats are very common in milk cows, and differ 

 greatly in form and size. As a general rule they are more or 

 less polypoid or pedunculate in character, and have a very small 

 neck, though they are sometimes conical or sessile. They are 

 especially common on the teats of young cows. There may be 15 

 or 20 or even more on one teat, scattered over the organ from 



