DISEASES OF THE MAMMARY GLANDS. 173 



Inflammatory action may be excited in them by injury, 

 and suppuration result.- 



Treatment. — If still in milk, the daily withdrawal of the 

 secretion should be observed — ^by natural means if possible. 

 Milk is frequently secreted, independent of the animal partu- 

 riating, more especially if connection has taken place. Its re- 

 moval, if abundant, is advisable, which may be done with the 

 fingers. A smart dose of aperient medicine, and for a few 

 days short commons, is also of service in dispersing it. 



Where the animal is comparatively or quite dry, and we 

 have the tumors only to deal with, it becomes a question 

 whether, so far as their direct treatment isconcerned, we shall 

 rely on external application, or a surgical operation. If the 

 tumors are of recent date and fluctuating, they may be punc- 

 tured with some amount of success : if hardened and of long 

 existence, their removal with the knife can be adopted with 

 safety and success. 



Individually, I should give the iodine a fair chance, before 

 resorting to either. 



CANCER. 



The so-called cancer of the mammary gland is chiefly con- 

 fined to bitches which have parturiated. I say so-called, be- 

 cause it is rarely that the true cancer cell can be detected — 

 the character is generally that of an indurated or scirrhous 

 tumor. In chronic cases they frequently assume an osteoid 

 form. I have removed numerous tumors so constituted — 

 some with spiculae of bone throughout their structure, others 

 only ossified in the centre. If removed early, a sac contain- 

 ing pus or watery fluid will generally be found within them. 



Ca«J-«.— External injury, cold, damp, retention of milk 

 from not suckling, insufficient suckling, or obstruction, sudden 

 withdrawal of whelps soon after parturition. 



Symptoms. — These are usually slow in manifesting them- 

 selves. The primary ones are heat, redness, enlargement, 



