212 COMMON AILMENTS OF CATTLE 



ears, and limbs become cold and the hair in general is erect. 

 This condition is soon followed by fever and the body becomes 

 unnaturally warm. The muzzle becomes hot and dry, the 

 temperature rises, rapid pulse, excited breathing, impaired 

 appetite, cessation of rumination, and constipation. The udder 

 swells and becomes hard in one, two, three, or all four quarters 

 and the yield of milk is greatly lessened, at times becoming 

 entirely suppressed in the affected quarter or quarters. As 

 the inflammatory process extends, the udder becomes painfully 

 tender, causing the animal to straddle with its hind legs when 

 walking. In cases where the supporting tissue or framework of 

 the udder is inflamed, the swelling is rounded and uniform and 

 pits on pressure. In cases where the secreting portion of the 

 gland becomes inflamed, the swelling is more localized and 

 appears as hard, nodular masses, deep in the gland. In all 

 cases the milk is suppressed and replaced by a watery fluid 

 wmich is at times streaked with blood and mixed Avith clots of 

 casein. Later it becomes thickened and is usually accompanied 

 by an offensive odor, due to pus formation. 



The course of the disease varies, some cases lasting only a 

 few days, while others will last several days or even Aveeks before 

 the inflammation has subsided and the gland restored to its 

 normal condition. Many cases terminate in complete recovery. 

 Others result in only partial recovery with arrested secretion 

 in one or more quarters. When this occurs, the affected portion 

 shrinks to a smaller size. In quite a number of cases, hard, 

 fibrous masses result, which cause permanent induration (hard- 

 ening). In other cases abscesses (boils) will develop. The 

 abscess may empty itself on the external surface or it may 

 break into the milk ducts and be discharged through the teats. 



Treatment. — Treatment will be found to vary in accordance 

 with the stages of the disease. 



Internally, laxatives are indicated. Epsom salts, one to 

 two pounds, with an ounce of ginger dissolved in a quart of 

 water and administered as a drench, will be found efficacious. 

 After the purgative action has ceased, one ounce of saltpeter 

 may be given once a day. Local treatment consists of hot 

 fomentations and gentle but frequent massage. Cloths wrung 



