Parturient Paresis in the Cow 93 1 



volume seems insufficient, if the response is tardy or feeble, 

 more air or oxygen may be introduced at any time. 



Should the first inflation fail to produce the desired results 

 after an interval of 3 to 6 hours, a second inflation of the gland 

 should be made. We have no evidence that any harm may occur 

 from repeated inflations of the udder with air or oxygen, so long 

 as no infection is carried into the gland. 



Since the mammae are at this stage in a very highly vunerable 

 state, it is essential to safety that due precautions be taken 

 against introducing infection into the gland upon the portion of 

 the apparatus inserted into the teat, or forcing it into the gland 

 with the oxygen or air which is being introduced. 



The precautions to be taken are analogous to those for any 

 surgical operation. They include the disinfection of the operator's 

 hands ; of the cow's udder, especially the teats ; and of the injec- 

 tion apparatus, especially the tube which is to be introduced 

 into the teats ; and the protection of each of these parts from 

 infection during the operation. 



The udder should be carefully placed upon a clean cloth sat- 

 urated with a reliable disinfectant, or upon a clean tray, after 

 which the entire gland, and especially the teats, is to be 

 thoroughly washed and disinfected. The apparatus to be used 

 for injecting the air or oxygen, especially the tube to be inserted 

 into the teat, should be sterilized by boiling. 



Before inserting the tube into the teat, all antiseptics should 

 be carefully washed away from the tube and the end of the teat 

 with sterile water. The introduction of antiseptics into the 

 milk gland upon a tube or other instrument is as dangerous 

 as the introduction of most forms of bacteria. The opera- 

 tion is to be aseptic, not antiseptic. 



The mechanism by which the inflation is brought about is not 

 essential, so long as the general rules of asepsis are maintained. 

 Various forms of apparatus have been introduced for the purpose 

 of avoiding infection, but few, if any of them are free from ob- 

 jection. No difference what the particular type of apparatus, the 

 general rules of aseptic surgery must be carefully applied by the 

 veterinarian ; the apparatus is not sufiicient in itself. Many of 

 these devices consist of a rubber bulb, attached to an elongated 

 tube, into which is inserted a filter of asbestos, cotton or other 

 substance. Beyond this, the rubber tubing ends with an ordinary 



