Diseases occurrinfj after Parturition in Cows and Sheep. 565 



through the duct of the teat ; on the contrary, it is better not to 

 draw it at all ; but if there be much soft dependence about the 

 base of the teat, a lancet should be thrust upwards into the udder — 

 there need be no fear of evil consequences, provided the teat itself 

 be not wounded, and much benefit will be derived from the 

 gradual draining away of milk discoloured with bloody serum. 

 Should pus form in the gland, which will be ascertained by its 

 softness and fluctuation, it will be prudent to make a large, and 

 as much as possible dependent^, opening for its evacuation, and the 

 same must be repeated with any fresh collection that may appear: 

 the importance of making a free opening is in the prevention of 

 sinuses or pipes being formed during the process of healing. 

 This last process may be assisted by the daily application of a 

 digestive, and none will answer the purpose better than the black 

 oils. If any considerable proportion of the udder be morti- 

 fied it may be removed with the knife, the large blood-vessels 

 being secured with a ligature should they be wounded in the 

 operation : as dressing, a solution of the chloride of lime, in the 

 proportion of an ounce to a pint of water, may be alternated with 

 the compound tincture of myrrh ; and as the healing process pro- 

 ceeds, the digestive before recommended should be resorted to. 

 Occasionally, one or more quarters will remain hard and swollen 

 when all other symptoms have disappeared, the disease having 

 terminated, as before noticed, in effusion and loss of milk. When 

 this result appears likely to take place, benefit will occasionally 

 be obtained, at an early period, and more or less absorption of 

 the swelling take place, from one or two applications of an oint- 

 ment composed of half a dram of the biniodide of mercury to 

 an ounce of lard ; although not unfrequently this will act as an 

 irritant, and hasten the formation of pus. During this disease 

 the diet should consist of warm or cold bran-mashes, with a few 

 bruised oats and a little hay ; roots should generally be avoided ; 

 and if it be the early grass season the animal should be taken 

 from the pasture and shut up in the house ; but when the fever 

 and constitutional symptoms have disappeared, or when the 

 animal is suffering from discharges from wounds in the udder, 

 some bean or barley flour, mixed with cut hay and clover, or 

 small quantities of bruised oil cake, may be allowed. If the 

 appetite is entirely gone, she must be drenched with oatmeal- 

 gruel, to which, as the case may require, small quantities of 

 sound ale or porter have been added. The water given to the 

 animal should be warmed ; this will disincline her to partake 

 of any great quantity, and thus indirectly tend temporarily 

 to check the secretion of milk — a benefit derived, inasmuch 

 as it is of great importance, if possible, to arrest the disease 

 at an early period, so that the functions of the gland may 



