ON DISEASES OF THE TEATS OF COWS. 
595 
of the teats, it is very much disposed to become so, and in a 
short time it is usually.spoiled by means of the heat and disease 
of the parts. While the vessels of the teats act on the milk, 
and render it acid ; the milk itself, thus turned, acts on the [ves¬ 
sels, and irritates them: the distention of the vessels likewise 
causes a great deal of pain, and thus one evil augments the other. 
The milk thickens; the clots quickly harden, and cannot be 
got out; the apertures of the teats become closed, and loss of 
that teat ensues, even if we are so fortunate as to prevent the in¬ 
flammation from extending to them all. 
It must also be added, that the pain of the teat, when it arrives 
at a certain point, produces fever: this fever, in its turn, reacts 
on the nipple, and thus augments the inflammation; so, in this 
case, one evil increases the other. 
It will easily be seen that it is always prudent and often ne¬ 
cessary not to limit our cares to the diseased part only: we 
must diminish the food, and brush and dress the animal, in order 
to aid the perspiration. Then, to prevent the fever from weak¬ 
ening the beast, we must give mild green meat, and particularly 
roots, amongst which carrots, beet-root, and radishes, are most 
beneficial. She should also be made to drink frequently, and a 
little at a time. 
That neutral salt which grocers sell under the name of Epsom 
salts, and English (Glauber’s) salts, are very serviceable here. 
They have two advantages : they are easily given, and very soon 
act. A pound should be divided into eight parts, of which one 
should be given morning and night in gruel, or the animal’s 
* usual drink. 
Shall I speak of the “ unguentum populeum, and oil of laurel, 
and camphorated oil, and grease mixed with the ashes of vine 
leaves, and cream, and many other celebrated ointments?” All 
greasy applications stop up the pores of the skin, and quickly 
turn rancid, when thinly spread over a heated surface, and thus 
irritate and often produce ulceration and abscess. 
“ And the smoke of sugar, of old leather, of juniper-berries, 
or of wild thyme burned under the udder, or the vapour of vine¬ 
gar poured on hot flints?” These must necessarily irritate a part 
already too much irritated, but they may be of service when the 
swellings are not inflammatory. 
“ And clay dissolved in vinegar?” Some persons esteem this 
to be a good discutient. Although clay (argillaceous earth) di¬ 
minishes the strength of the vinegar, it will be prudent never to 
use it except mixed with water. Discutients can only be of 
service at the commencement and the termination of inflamma¬ 
tion, and when it is not very intense. Where the.inflammation 
is urgent, they augment it, and indurate the nipple. 
