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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