VERRUCOUS PAPILLOMATA OF THE UDDER.
In cows suffering from cutaneous papillomata the udder is often covered with a varying number of little sessile warts, which are spread over a considerable surface, are very sensitive, and bleed at the lightest touch. Milking is thus rendered extremely painful and difficult; the animals struggle, kick, and become dangerous.
The condition is extremely troublesome, and in spite of every precaution the milk is always soiled.
The best method of treatment consists in removing the warts individually with fine, sharp-bladed curved scissors.
The animals must be firmly secured, if necessary cast, and the operator should avoid removing more of the skin covering the udder than is absolutely necessary. The bleeding which follows is trifling, and stops of itself. After washing the parts with an antiseptic solution, the little wounds may be powered with a mixture in equal proportions of tannin and boric acid.
CHAPTER VI.
DISTURBANCE IN THE MILK SECRETION AND CHANGES IN THE MILK.
Changes in the milk are so common and play so important a part in the milk industry that it is absolutely necessary to mention the more important, the country veterinary surgeon being frequently consulted on this point.
The udder acts as a natural emunctory, just like the kidney, by which are eliminated, in consequence of special selective properties, certain natural principles (the active principles contained in the forage and other food, vegetable alkaloids, etc.), drugs (alcohol), and poisons (nicotine). This physiological peculiarity explains the influence of changes of diet on the composition of the milk in mothers and on the condition of their offspring. In the human species it also explains congenital alcoholism in children, and a number of diseases whose cause was formerly unknown.
Agalaxia.—This term implies a temporary or definite arrest of the milk secretion. In many instances it represents nothing more than a disturbance in the physiological function of the gland, but in others it forms a true diseased condition.
Thus it is beyond dispute that psychical influences may produce disturbance in this respect. Temporary suspension in the secretion as a consequence of removal of the offspring from its mother, especially when the young animal has been sucking for several days or weeks, is a fact very well known to all breeders.