238 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



of the hind limbs by a large calf passing through the pelvis. Its 

 symptoms do not differ from those of palsy of the hind limbs, occur- 

 ring at other times, and it may be treated in the same way, excepting 

 so far as bruises of the vagina may demand special smoothing treat- 

 ment. 



CONGESTION OF THE UDDER (gARGEt). 



In heavy milkers, before and just after calving, it is the rule that 

 the mammary gland is enlarged, hot, tense and tender, and that a 

 slight exudation or pasty swelling extends forward from the gland 

 on the lower surface of the abdomen. This physiological congestion 

 is looked upon as a matter of course, and disappears in two or three 

 days when the secretion of milk has been full}'' established. This 

 breaking up of the bag may be greatly hastened by the sucking of a 

 hungry calf and the kneading it gives the udder with its nose, by 

 stripping the glands clean thrice daily, and by active rubbing at each 

 milking with the palm of the hand, witli or without lard or, better, 

 with camphorated ointment. 



The congestion may be at times aggravated by standing in a draft 

 of cold air or by neglect to milk for an entire day or more (over- 

 stocking, hefting) with the view of making a gi'eat show of udder 

 for purposes of sale. In such cases the surface of the bag pits on 

 pressure, and the milk has a reddish tinge or even streaks of blood, 

 or it is partially or fully clotted and is drawn with difficult}^, mixed, 

 it may be, with a yellowish serum (whey) which has separated from 

 the casein. This should be treated like the above, though it may 

 sometimes demand fomentations with warm water to ward off in- 

 flammation, and it may be a week before the natural condition of the 

 gland is restored. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE UDDER ( SIMPLE MAMMITIS). 



Congestion may merge into active inflammation, or it may arise 

 direct, in connection with exposure to cold or wet, with standing in a 

 cold draft, with blows on the udder with clubs, stones, horns, or feet, 

 with injury from a sharp or cold stone, or the projecting edge of a 

 board or end of a nail in the floor, with sudden and extreme changes 

 of weather, with overfeeding on rich albuminous food like cotton 

 seed, beans, or peas, with indigestions, with sores on the teats, or 

 with insufficient stripping of the udder in milking. In the period 

 of full milk the organ is so susceptible that any serious disturbance 

 of the general health is liable to fall upon the udder. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms and mode of onset van'- in different 

 cases. When following exposure there is usually a violent shivering 

 fit, with cold horns, ears, tail, and limbs, and general erection of the 



