952 Veterinary Obstetrics 



sume enormous proportions, and finally take the character of a 

 connective tissue tumor, and, by its weight, drag the capsule of 

 the quarter downward until it nearly reaches the ground. In some 

 cows the indurated udder is so enormous in size, and hangs so 

 low, that it interferes greatly with locomotion. It is constantly 

 subject to injuries during the animal's movements, by coming in 

 contact with obstacles of various kinds, which cause wounds 

 and contusions and bring about infections of the enlarged function- 

 less gland which may give more or less annoyance. 



At each birth period, also, indurated glands are liable to be- 

 come congested and inflamed, and give rise to more or less serious 

 complications. Such a gland is always beyond restoration. 



d. Gangrene. Gangrene constitutes the most serious termi- 

 nation of mastitis, because it destroys absolutely the function of 

 all that portion of the gland which is involved, and seriously im- 

 perils the life of the animal. It occurs usually as a direct result 

 of the intense infection of the part, which leads to the destruc- 

 tion of the circulation in the affected gland. It may appear very 

 quickly, or may be somewhat delayed in its advent. Gangrene 

 may involve the parenchymal and inter- lobular tissues alone, or 

 may include the skin. It may be confined to one of the quarters 

 or a portion of it, or may involve the half or all of the gland. 

 The gangrenous portion may partially undergo purulent destruc. 

 tion. The surrounding parts may suppurate in such a manner 

 that a sequestration of the necrotic tissue occurs, and the gan-* 

 grenous portion is later thrown off. 



In the more acute forms of gangrenous mammitis, the course 

 of the disease is entirely too rapid and virulent for a sequestrum 

 to form or suppuration to take place, and the animal dies very 

 quickly from acute septicaemia or pyaemia. Few diseases run a 

 more stormy course than the more acute types of gangrene of 

 the mammae. In one instance, which we observed, a cow was left 

 apparently well at milking time in the evening ; when found the 

 next morning she was down and unable to rise because of acute 

 mammitis, which quickly advanced to gangrene of the organ ; 

 she died during the day. Other instances have been observed 

 where the disease has pursued a similarly rapid course. 



Pathology. The pathology of mammitis includes every pos- 

 sible morbid change in an acinous gland, important changes in 

 the milk secretions, and such systemic disorders as pyaemia and 



