CHAPTER XI. 



DISEASES OF THE MAMMARY GLAND. 



MAMMITIS, LACTEAL TUMOURS, CANCER. 



MAMMITIS, 



Or inflammation of the milk-gland, is by no means an un- 

 common complaint in canine practice. 



Causes. — External injury, as blows, bruises, or wounds, 

 exposure to cold or damp, retention of milk, etc. 



Symptoms. — The part affected is red, hot, somewhat 

 hard, and excessively tender; the lacteal secretion is 

 changed in character, first having a curdled appearance, 

 subsequently mingled with blood, and ultimately pus, the 

 natural secretion becoming then totally arrested. Matter 

 having formed may gradually approach the surface of the 

 gland and point there, but it rarely becomes thus located, 

 the whole gland generally being involved. Considerable 

 febrile disturbance is present throughout. 



Treatment. — In the early stage leeches may be applied to 

 the part, and hot fomentations ; a saline aperient should be 

 administered, and perfect quietude on a soft bed enjoined. 

 If the complaint results from retention of milk, owing to 

 the removal or death of whelps, the sooner suckling is 

 allowed the better — whether the secretion be altered or not, 

 even to pus, its direction to the channel of the teat for 

 evacuation is strongly advisable, and much preferable to 

 permitting abscesses to form, and point at the surface, and 

 thus destroy a considerable portion of the gland. 

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