looo Veterinary Obstetrics 



tion, and then introduces the instrument through the teat canal 

 until it reaches the point of disease. Bang directs that, in 

 case a knife is iised, the incision through the constricted 

 portion should be backward in an anterior teat and for- 

 ward in a posterior teat, in order that the resulting 

 stream of milk may be favorably directed. This applies 

 only to those cases in which the obstruction is in 

 the teat canal and not in the base of the teat. When the teat 

 canal is sufficiently dilated, the cow loses her power to hold the 

 milk, and it flows away involuntarily ; but during the process of 

 healing she regains the power of retaining it. 



The after-handling consists in frequent milking and in very 

 careful disinfection and cleanliness of the parts. While healing 

 is going on, it is desirable to insert a milk tube daily, and retain 

 it in position for several hours in order to prevent adhesion during 

 the process of repair. Even with this precaution, it is exceed- 

 ingly difficult to prevent a recurrence of the stricture ; and finally, 

 during the dry period, complete atresia is liable to occur. 



Strebel and others recommend that the thickened tissues which 

 cause the stricture should be removed by curetting. They ad- 

 vise,-as an instrument, a stilette with a sharp shield at the distal 

 end, which may be pushed through the thickened part, and then 

 forcibly drawn out, cutting away a portion of the diseased tissues. 

 By repeated use, this instrument finally enlarges the canal to a 

 sufficient size, after which the treatment is of the same general 

 character as that already described after dilating by cutting. 

 Others use a small curette in the same way, or even a very nar- 

 row-bladed knife or scalpel. 



Others have suggested incising the teat from the side, cutting 

 down upon the obstacle and removing it completely with the 

 scalpel, and, under strict aseptic precautions, carefully suturing 

 the wound. Later great care should be used in milking, so as to 

 avoid the tearing out of the sutures and the consequent estab- 

 lishment of a milk fistula. The operation has not come into 

 general use, because it is almost impossible to carry out the 

 operation and the after-treatment with sufficient care to avoid 

 mammitis. 



If the obstruction is near the end of the teat, the amputation 

 of the obstructed portion immediately above the seat of the 

 disease may afford satisfactory results. The operation is espec- 



