It sometimes happens that the milk ducts are not thoroughly emptied of their contents in consequence of obstruction of their orifices on the surface of the teat. This accumulation of milk, acts in part as a foreign body, setting up irritation and inflammation, followed by change of structure; the chemical decomposition which the retained milk undergoes is also a factor in the production of these morbid processes. After pupping, the glands swell and milk is secreted; but one of the teats may become dammed up, and the above disorder will follow. The same thing may happen when the milk of a bitch suckling is dried up too soon, or too quickly, especially if certain external applications be used to attempt the dispersion of the milk. Milk is also secreted to some extent independently of conception or parturition, particularly in high bred animals. Whether the animal has had, or has not had pups, the secretion of milk and the consequent enlargement of the gland take place about nine weeks after oestrum, when parturition would have happened had there been impregnation. Unless the glands are examined, and, if necessary, evacuated of their contents, at this period, unpleasant consequences are apt to come on.

Symptoms

Lacteal tumours are small, round, movable, deeply-seated, hard, painless bodies, which make their appearance in different parts of the gland. The swellings gradually advance, and may attain an enormous size, causing the animal much annoyance, and looking unsightly. These tumours are essentially of a benignant character, and consist of hypertrophy of the proper gland tissue. But as they are prone to take on an unhealthy ulceration, and even to degenerate into a cancerous state, no time should be lost in resorting to proper treatment. At an early stage they are small, and can be removed, if removal is deemed expedient, without much pain or difficulty. When the growths are large, it is obvious that they are exposed to external injury - liable to be hurt by blows, by the legs, by the ground. They often remain stationery after having grown to a certain extent, but the morbid process is apt to be lighted up afresh by any cause of irritation; the part inflames and breaks, leaving an ulcer which discharges an ichorous bloody fluid.

Treatment

The medicines most likely to disperse these tumours are Belladonna,* when they are connected with the secretion of milk; Mercurius, when they are the products of chronic inflammation; and Iodium, should these two remedies produce little or no reduction in their size. After having used these medicines for some time, it is possible that the tumours may remain in statu quo, in which case a surgical operation may be performed, if this step be deemed advisable.