Acute Mammitis 959 



maintnitis, that the animal system be kept in the most vigorous 

 condition possible, but it is equally important that the disease 

 products shall be promptly eliminated. 



Whenever these fail to be promptly eliminated, they at once act 

 unfavorably upon the system, inducing fever, with its important 

 train of symptoms. With the advent of fever, the kidneys, 

 bowels and other eliminating organs fail to perform their normal 

 functions. 



Mastitis in ruminants is especially marked by great torpidity 

 of the digestive system : rumination ceases, the bowels are tor- 

 pid, digestion is at a standstill, the aliment within the canal 

 tends to undergo decomposition, and waste products- which are 

 normally eliminated through this channel are retained within the 

 system. 



It has accordingly long been the custom of veterinary practi- 

 tioners to favor elimination by stimulating the alimentary tract 

 to increased activity. This is partly accomplished by a laxative 

 diet, which in mild cases frequently suffices. In the more serious 

 cases, the patient does not eat, or for other reasons a laxative diet 

 fails to produce the desired results and the practitioner needs ap- 

 peal to more radical measures. 



The administration of purgatives in acute mammitis has ac- 

 cordingly become recognized by many practitioners as highly 

 valuable. Most practitioners rely upon the administration of 

 magnesium, or sodium sulphate with various adjuncts. They 

 have the common defect of inducing a degree of nausea, de- 

 creased thirst and inappetence, which combine to retard or 

 prevent catharsis. At best they are slow of action. Oils are 

 little, if any, more effective. 



In our experience, the hypodermic cathartics — eserine, areco-' 

 line and pilocarpine, combined where advisable with strychnine — ; 

 constitute the most reliable, prompt and eflBcient means for un- 

 loading the alimentary tract. They save 12 to 20 hours in time, 

 hours which may be of critical importance in the control of the 

 malady ; they are safe and bear quick repetition when the dose 

 proves too small ; and they possess very high eificiency. 



In one case occurring in our clinic, acute mammitis of a very 

 virulent type, in all four quarters, followed the iodide of potas- 

 sium infusion in handling parturient paresis. The temperature 

 was io5° F., the pulse very rapid, the muzzle dry, the animal 



