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GANGRENOUS INFLAMMATION OF THE UDDER. 
In exceptional cases the local process is limited. A dissecting inflam¬ 
mation sets in which separates the necrotic tract and may result in 
recovery. This is, however, a rare exception; the greater number of 
animals perish with symptoms of septicaemia. The disease is not infre¬ 
quently complicated by septic metritis, which may either have been 
produced simultaneously, or may even have occurred as the primary 
condition, but for the time have escaped notice. 
Esser saw an enzootic outbreak of the disease in sheep. Twelve to 
twenty-four hours after the appearance of the first symptoms, comprising 
pain, and refusal of the dam to let her young suck, local manifestations 
set in, and generally affected one-half of the udder. The skin was dark 
red and showed discrete violet spots about the size of linseed, which 
rapidly increased in size, and felt soft and cold. Finally, the affected 
parts became insensitive, and the animals died in three to four days 
when suitable treatment was not very early resorted to. During the 
disease the lambs suffer from sores on the lips. 
The prognosis is unfavourable, for in many cases not even the 
sacrifice of the udder can save the animal’s life. 
In treatment of the purulent and gangrenous forms of mastitis, 
the first point naturally is to prevent infection, or combat it if already 
existing. The greatest care is required in using milk tubes, probes, 
catheters, and other instruments introduced into the milk canals. 
If the disease becomes enzootic, and especially if it assumes the 
gangrenous form, segregation of the diseased and disinfection of stalls is 
absolutely necessary. Esser bathed the udder and placed the animals 
in fresh stalls under the care of a special attendant. This prevented 
any further cases. He draws attention to the danger in the gangrenous 
form of transmission by the shepherd. 
In purulent mastitis occurring enzootically, which Jouquain believes 
to be intimately connected with the use of old, bad straw, similar pre¬ 
cautions are required. Dieckerhoff disinfects the stalls, causes the walls 
and floors to be washed with hot lye and strewn with lime. He also 
attaches great importance to careful and regular removal and destruction 
of the diseased milk, and to the cleansing of milk pails and pans. 
A second precaution, frequent milking of the diseased quarter of the 
udder, is just as necessary, for the increase of infectious material occurs 
chiefly in the milk. Provided the udder is not too sensitive, it should 
be gently rubbed and kneaded to favour the discharge of inflammatory 
products from the acini of the gland. The milk catheter is of little 
service, on account of its becoming stopped by clots. 
The diet should be of such a character as to diminish milk secretion 
to a minimum. For this purpose, in cows, purgatives like Glauber’s salt 
may be used, and under certain circumstances bleeding may be resorted to. 
