698 PATHOLOGY OF PARTURITION. 



and bleeding ; then they are extremely painful, and the animal refuses 

 to be suckled or milked, while attempts to handle the teat cause the 

 creature to offer great resistance. 



These fissures have an almost natural tendency to increase in depth, 

 so long as the young creature is suckled. Sometimes they form at the 

 very extremity of the teat, and the sinus and milk ducts become in- 

 flamed, the viscid matter secreted becomes firm and blocks up the canal, 

 which may ultimately be completely obliterated, causing retention of 

 the milk, inflammation of the gland, and perhaps leading to a fatal 

 termination. 



Treatment. 



Fissures in the teat should not be neglected, however slight they may 

 appear to be. They might be prevented by cleanliness and care, and 

 keeping the animal from draughts of cold air. It is a good plan, par- 

 ticularly with primiparae, and especially the finer bred Cows, to examine 

 and wash the teats for a short time after parturition, and if there is a 

 tendency to sores, to dress them with some bland substance — as lard, 

 glycerine, or olive-oil. 



When fissures are present, and especially when they are deep, an 

 essential condition for their recovery is preventing the progeny from 

 using the affected teat or teats. By this abstention, and the use of the 

 teat-syphon (well disinfected every time) to empty the gland, recovery 

 in the most serious cases is comparatively rapid, and sometimes even 

 spontaneous. 



Emollient lotions are generally recommended, and the ordinary 

 fluid is the milk drawn from the teat, which is to be frequently applied 

 during the day, the part being well cleaned with a soft cloth after each 

 application. This and other mild emollients may be useful when the 

 injuries are very slight and superficial ; but when they are more serious, 

 or a rapid recovery is important, then recourse must be had to more 

 efficient remedies. For this purpose, perhaps nothing is better than 

 carbohsed glycerine (1 to 20), or, in very severe cases, a watery solution 

 of silicate of soda. Dry dressings — as iodoform or boric acid — may be 

 employed in some cases ; an ointment composed of tannic acid 3 parts, 

 water 2 parts, and lard 25 parts, has been recommended. It may 

 expedite recovery to touch the fissures lightly with nitrate of silver, and 

 to cover the teat with an india-rubber capsule or ring. 



Obliteeation of the Galactophokus Sinus. 

 This may result from fissures, disease, or growths of various kinds, or 

 it may be congenital (atresia), and is most frequently observed in the 

 Cow. It may be either partial or complete. 



Symptoms. 

 When due to fissures or disease, the symptoms are gradually developed ; 

 but when the occlusion is congenital, they suddenly appear either imme- 

 diately before or after parturition, when the gland becomes active. 

 Then the udder is distended, but no milk issues from the teat ; the 

 distention increases, and if relief is not aflbrded inflammation and 

 suppuration may result. On examination of the end of the teat in con- 

 genital atresia, pressure — as if in milking, and if the skin alone be the 

 obstacle — will cause a slight prominence where the opening of the sinus 

 should be, the milk being felt in the sinus. Should the occlusion extend 



