The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-04-12
MAMMITIs OR GARGET.

MAMMITIs OR GARGET.
To tie Editor Of The Cecil Wing:
The consideration of this disease is a
subject not only int esting to farmers,
but one that is of the utmost consequence
to every owner of cattls.
Question-What is Mammals or Gar.
get?
A"sUsr-lt is an inflammation of the
mammary glands or udders.
This is one of the most common dis
eases affecting the bovine race. There is
hardly febrile disease affecting these
animals, but what the tactical secretion
is diminished, ard if such diminution
should continue, it is very likely to in
duce this disease. Among the animals
that are most likely to become affected
are young cows, that have been fed
highly on very nutritious food, and are
in plethoric condition; more especially
are they liable to become affected, when
they are in this plethoric condition and
at the time of calving. Generally, the
more aged animals are not so liable to
become affected, when they are, it is
during hot, dry and sultry weather. 1t
is particularly seen in those animals that
are being fattened for market, when this
is the case, the loss is considerable, a
summers keep and care being generally
thrown away, to the loss and aisappont-
ment of the owner. Besides being in
duced by plethora; it is sometimes
brought on by overheating the animal;
or from exposure and taking cold, in fact
they are very liable to it at all seasons
of the year. When this disorder makes
its appearance, it is in the form of a small
intiamatory tumour, collected from a
gross habit of body, being deposited
upon some portion of the tactical vessels,
where its presence is quickly observable
either on account of its lessening the
quality and quantity of the milk. or. on
account of its changing It to Il bloody or
corrupt appearance. AT other times,
the milk or corruption is totally stopped,
and the tumor gradually goes on, until
it reaches a state Of suppuration, when
it opens-either externally or internally
in either case it is discharged and carried
off.
Ca"ses-There are many causes that
bring about this affection. In many in.
stances, it arises from the effects of lying
on cold stones, damp ground, wet grass
&c. When the system is suscepti-
BILE to external influences, by reason of
recent parturition or calving. Among
the other causes, are bruises, wounds or
anything acting as a source of irritation
to the udder. Another common cause
of producing this affection, is by follow
ing the absurd practice of leaving por-
tions of the milk in the udder, in place of
carefully abstracting the whole at each
milking. Some 60 to the other extreme
and which is equally injurious, and al
low the udder to go too long without
milking, this is very often seen in some
of our stock yards, where animals are
awaiting sale or transportation. 1t is
claimed by some authors, that this dis
ease sometimes occurs in animals that
are dry and give no milk, or where IL 9
tactical secl etions are stopped: if such
cases occur, it is very seldom they are
seen, l must admit that have never met
the disease in such animals, therefore
l cannot speak definitely about them.
Mammitis often accompanies many of
the other diseases, as in any of the
febrile diseases in which the lactca, Sc
erstions are checked, as diseases of the
thorax and its organs, as pneumonia,
pleurisy, pericarditis. endocarditis, Ca
pillary bronchitis, &c. 1t occurs as a
symptom in many of the anthrax or
blood diseases, such as pleuro pneumonia
contaeiosa, epizootic aphtha foot and
mouth dlseases) or in the variolus dis
eases as small pox. he.
.Symptoms:-Among the first symptoms
noticed upon the Introduction OF the dis
ease is a shivering fit. which is soon fol
lowed by fever and marked dullness of
the animal. The hair is dry and harsh
to the touch, and appears to stand the
wrong way. The visible mucous mem
branes are more or less injected, extrem-
tiles cold, ears and nose cold, horns hot
and sometimes cold. Shortly these symp-
toms begin to subside, but the local
symptoms increase in severity. In the
mammary glands We have present all the
phenomena of intlamation; heat, pain,
rednesS and swelling The bowels are
slightly constipated; on account of the
accompanying fever the quantity of milk
is diminished, and if an attempt at milk
ing is made, the operation is SO painful
that the animal is very much averse to
having it performed. The udder is so
painful that the slightest touch some
times makes the animal vince from pain.
Besides being painful the udder begins
to get hard in one or more parts, which,
to the touch, resemble small tumors;
these continue swelling as the inilama-
tory process goes on. When milk is ex-
tracted at this period, it is curdled, aud
often blood will be found mingled with
it. Shortly these nedules or hardened
parts become soft and fiuctuate under the
finger. Pus is present, and is in many
cases discharged with the scanty portions
of milk taken from the animal At other
times, these assesses suppurate aud open
externally, in such cases there is more
hope for speedy and complete recovery
than there is when they open internally.
In other cases. the disease may stop be-
fore suppuration has taken place, the
curdled milk becomes coagulated, very
soon the quarter becomes hardened and
indurated, and eventually becomes inca
pable of giving milk, resulting in total
loss of the quarter. When this is the
case, the quarter thus affected has to be
excised (cut SuD, SO as to save the other
three quarters of the gland CT bag from
becoming similarly affected, and perhaps
eventually entirely lost, in which case
the COW would only be fit for the butcher