MAMMITIS on MASTITIS. (587 



the canal of the teat, especially that produced in dilating this channel, 

 or in the removal of papillomatous tumours from this part.' 



In these cases infection may occur from the wound itself, or through 

 micro-organisms passing into the canals from without. In support of 

 the latter view, wliich will be referred to again, we may mention that 

 Viseur has attributed catarrh of the membrane lining the milk-ducts 

 and sinuses to the too frequent employnient of the teat-tube or syphon ; 

 this more or less paralyses the sphincter of the teat, and through the 

 relaxed aperture the air, charged with germs, irritates and inflames the 

 membrane. 



" Overstocking " of the udder with milk has generally been considered 

 a very likely cause in the production of inflammation. The sudden 

 removal of the young, imperfect milking, etc., have also been blamed. 

 Franck, however, appears to doubt the influence of mammary disten- 

 tion, and some observations and experiments would tend to prove that 

 this does not always cause inflammation. For instance, Cows which 

 had suff^ered from mammitis, and had temporarily lost the function of 

 one or two quarters of the mammui, were found at the next lactation 

 period to have recovered the secretory power of these glands, but the 

 excretory canal in the teat was obliterated. Consequently, great dis- 

 tention occurred, and this was not relieved by an artificial opening. 

 Nevertheless, no inflammation ensued ; after the third day there was 

 a marked diminution in the turgescence of the quarters, and in about 

 eight days they had resumed their normal volume. And Kehrer has 

 experimentally shown that extreme distention may not cause inflamma- 

 tion, by closing two teats of a pregnant Bitch with collodion, and so 

 securely that at birth the Puppies could not remove it. The corre- 

 sponding glands were much distended with milk, but no inflammatory 

 action was set up. 



The influence of cold and wet, and especially the former — particularly 

 when animals rest with the udder on the ground — has also been ascribed 

 as a cause of mammary inflammation, but probably there is some 

 exaggeration in this ; as Cows which are seldom housed sufTer less, 

 perhaps, from this malady than those kept in warm cowsheds. Cold 

 winds or draughts in cowsheds have been especially alluded to as 

 operating powerfully in its production ; and though these and lying on 

 cold ground do not produce the disorder so frequently as is imagined, 

 yet there can be no doubt that while the udder is very active, and it is in 

 a state of almost constant hypera?mia, it will be more susceptil)le to 

 alternations of temperature, particularly if the animal is rendered deli- 

 cate by high feeding and an artificial existence. 



Certain atmospherical conditions — as electrical storms — have been 

 supposed to exert some influence also ; and extensive outbreaks of 

 mammitis have certainly been observed to coincide with these disturb- 

 ances — the udder being attacked with a kind of phlegmonous erysipelas. 



' Noquet (Recueil lie M^il. Vittrhiaire, IS.'d) ftllndos to a Cow in which, in conBe- 

 qnence of mainmitJ!*, for six months the two j.)o»torior quarters of the iKidnr lost their 

 p<)wer of secretin^ milk. It afterwards c ilved, and the siniineH of these <|iiarterR were 

 tilled with milk, but none could escaj^x.', owing to the teat canals l)eing closed. By means 

 of a knittini;-needle, artificial pasiaces were made, but these became deep purulent 

 fissures. When Noquet first saw the Cow, three quarters of the mammte were enormously 

 swollen and gangrenous. Deep scarifications were made, and repeated dressings ap[>lied ; 

 while camphorated draughts wtre administered internallj-. The three quarters were 

 destroyed, leaving only the left anterior quarter. Half a year afterwards all had cica- 

 trised, and there remained only a fistula. The animal waa in good condition, and was 

 therefore slaughtered. 



