FIFTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION 135 



DISEASES AND CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE UDDER 

 (Inflammation of the Udder (Mammitis, Mastitis, Garget) 



By far the most important disease of the udder is that 

 known as mammitis, mastitis, garget, or inflammation of 

 the udder. The disease assumes three forms, namely, ca- 

 tarrhal, parenchymatous, and interstitial. The first at- 

 tacks the mucous lining of the udder, the second the milk- 

 secreting structures, and the last the framework of the 

 udder. These diffefr in some of their characteristics, and in 

 an individual case all may appear at various stages of the 

 disease., 



Causes — Inflammation of the udder may be due to any 

 cause or combination of causes, such as exposure to cold or 

 wet weather, sudden change of temperature, blows, kicks, 

 bruises, or abrasions of the udder, an injudicious allowance 

 of rich feed, the retention of milk, infrequent or irregular 

 milking, the introduction of contaminated instruments into 

 the udder, local infection, indigestion, or any serious dis- 

 turbance of the animal's health. 



The disease sometimes appears in a mild form which 

 soon passes off, to recur at more or less regular intervals. 

 Although the condition usually occurs about calving time 

 there is no part of the milking period in which it may not 

 appear. 



Symptom* — In different forms or stages of the disease 

 there may be variation in the symptoms — the usual ones 

 are general depression and discomfiture. There is some- 

 times chill, but it may escape notice. Among the most con- 

 spicuous symptoms are a rough coat, dull eyes, loss of appe- 

 tite, suspended rumination, and possibly constipation. The 

 animal stands in an awkward, straddling position, and 

 moves about or liejs down with reluctance and great diffi- 

 culty, owing to the soreness of the udder, which will usually 

 be found to be hot and tense, very hard, and tender. The 

 fever, though sometimes local, is more likely to be general. 

 A dropsical condition under the skin of the abdomen is 

 sometimes observed. 



The secretion of milk if partly or entirely suspended. 



