TREATING INFECTIOUS MAMMITIS IN THE COW. 
17 
and are not milked for many weeks before coming in, they re¬ 
sume the secretion of milk of normal quality and quantity after 
parturition. 
We observed repeatedly that after ten to thirty weeks the 
one or another quarter would again suddenly become affected 
with infectious mammitis. It is difficult to say in these cases 
whether a fresh infection had occurred or whether the strep¬ 
tococci formerly present had persisted somewhere in the udder 
in a latent condition. 
If, however, cows showed the symptoms of infectious mam¬ 
mitis immediately after parturition, it was generally the incur¬ 
able form. But when the microscopic examination revealed 
short chains, then it indicated that the cow had been dry for 
only a short time, or not at all, or still more that the diseased 
quarters had been milked through the entire period of lactation, 
upon the supposition that by so doing the secretion of milk 
would more surely be resumed. 
On the average the curable type is more abundant than the 
incurable in the proportion of three to one (3:1). However, 
among the seventeen cases that we have observed to occur dur¬ 
ing the first three weeks after calving, eleven were of the incur¬ 
able type, and only six were of the curable type (2:1). 
From what has preceded, it is evident that no sure treatment 
leading to the cure of infectious mammitis has yet been dis¬ 
covered, and that those cases cured by treatment are by no 
means of economic value. The best measures to take against 
infectious mammitis consist in not milking the affected quarter 
after the disease is discovered. 
For by that means will not only the natural curative pro¬ 
cesses be aided, but also further spread of the infection will be 
hindered. For no matter how careful the attendant be (segre¬ 
gating the diseased animals, washing the hands after milking, 
etc.), there remains yet the danger of infection so long as the 
infective secretion is drawn. The important point lies in the 
early discovery of the disease, so that it will be confined to one 
quarter if possible, and leave the other two or three functional. In 
