ACUTE INFLAMMATIONS OF THE UDDER. 
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disease. It is not suggested, of course, that this classification in each 
case corresponds to a strongly marked anatomical and getiological 
entity; for, needless to say, a phlegmonous mastitis may be complicated 
with abscess formation or even gangrene, and, in consequence of a 
mixed infection, a catarrhal mastitis may assume the purulent character. 
Considering the intimate relationship between the parenchyma and 
stroma of the gland, it is scarcely surprising that acute inflammatory 
processes often extend from one to the other, that in inflammation of the 
parenchyma the stroma, and in disease of the stroma the parenchyma, 
often suffers. The former occurs the more readily, because the blood¬ 
vessels of the udder ramify without exception in the stroma. No sharp 
line, therefore, can be drawn between diseases of the parenchyma and 
those of the interstitial connective tissue. 
(A) ACUTE INFLAMMATIONS OF THE UDDEE. 
(a) phlegmonous mastitis . 1 mastitis phlegmonosa. 
This disease, previously described as superficial inflammation of the 
udder, affects the skin, subcutis, and interstitial connective tissue. It 
generally starts from the teats, which in the cow very frequently suffer 
from surface injuries, the rough hands of the milkei abiadmg the skin, 
and possibly conveying infectious material; the straw may also cause 
injury and infection. The micro-organisms first entei the skin and 
subcutis and set up inflammation, which generally extends to the capsule 
and the stroma of the gland. 
The process, therefore, seldom remains confined to one quarter, hut 
extends to several, or may even attack the entne udder. The isolated 
course of the lymph vessels of the separate teats, however, sometimes 
causes the disease to remain confined to single sections of the gland. 
The skin and subcutaneous tissue are at first cedematous, and latei 
become infiltrated with plastic material ; slight exudation of blood is 
not uncommon. We have to deal, then, with an eiysipelatous 01 
phlegmonous disease, of which the skm 01 subcutaneous tissue forms 
the special seat. 
Causes. We clearly have to deal here with phlegmonous or erysipe¬ 
latous inflammation, caused by infection through slight fissures and 
cracks in the skin, particularly of the teats. I he disease is piobably 
caused by pyogenic cocci or other microbes ; Kitt produced the disease 
in cows by infecting with the bacillus of malignant oedema. 
1 The term “phlegmonous inflammation” is no longer used in human medicine. . It is, 
however, so convenient that I retain it here to indicate inflammation of the subcutis or of 
connective tissue, frequently associated with pus formation.-[J no. W. D.] 
