948 Veterinary Obstetrics 



part of the udder, and may extend forward along the floor of the 

 abdomen toward the anterior limbs, and upward and backward 

 between the thighs to the vulva and perineum. Sometimes the 

 volume of the edema is very great, while at other times edema 

 may be virtually absent. 



In other instances, the swelling assumes, instead, the character 

 of induration, or we might say it is chiefly within the capsule of 

 the gland, involving the glandular and interlobular connective 

 tissues and, by causing parenchymatous engorgement, stretches 

 the gland capsule tight and causes a firm compression of the 

 contents within. Manipulation of the diseased quarter reveals 

 great tenseness and hardness in the deeper parts of the organ. 



When suppuration appears, and pus is formed, there soon 

 occur the cardinal symptoms of abscessation, with the prominent 

 firm swelling, redness and pain, to be followed by fluctuation. 

 Usually there is a single abscess involving much or all of a 

 quarter. Rarely one, two or all the quarters become the seat of 

 multiple recurrent abscesses, the udder enormously enlarged, 

 with abscesses scattered here and there, discharging copiously a 

 thick, fetid pus. 



When gangrene supervenes, the redness, pain and heat may 

 disappear, the swelling may become softer, and, if the skin is in- 

 volved, the surface becomes cold and the epithelium is readily 

 displaced. 



When the disease continues for a long period of time, and 

 enters upon a chronic state, sclerosis, with absence of pain and 

 heat, may follow, and the gland assume an enormous size. 



The disturbance of function in the gland is one of the most 

 marked and important symptoms of mammitis. From the very 

 first, there is a more or less marked decrease, or a total suspension 

 of the secretion of milk in the affected quarter. At the same time, 

 there usually occurs a more or less marked diminution in the 

 amount of milk secreted by the apparently healthy quarters. 



The changes in the character of the milk are highly important, 

 and reveal to a certain extent the virulence of the malady. The 

 milk loses its neutral or faintly alkaline character, and becomes 

 somewhat acid. The casein becomes precipitated and flocculent. 

 The clumps of casein may be so tough and of such large size as to 

 render it difficult or impossible for them to be forced out through 

 the teat orifice. In many cases they probably remain incarcerated 



