diseases of the digestive organs.

DISEASES FOLLOWING PARTURITION. 263may be extracted by using the spring teat dilator (Plate xxiv, Fig.being held surrounded by its three limbs. Before extraction is attemptedan ounce of almond oil previously boiled should be injected into the teat.TEAT BLOCKED BY CALCULUS.When the calcareous matter of the milk has been precipitated in thform of a smooth, rounded stone, a rough conglomerated concretion,or a fine sand-like debris, it may cause obstruction and irritation.These bodies are felt to be much harder than those formed by casein,and the milk usually contains gritty particles. Extraction may beattempted by simple milking in the case of the finelydivided grittymatter, or with the spring dilator (Plate xxiv, Fig. 3) in the case of thelarger masses. Should this fail the teat may be laid open with the knifeand sewed up again or closed with collodion, but such an operation isbest deferred until the cow is dry.TEAT BLOCKED BY A WARTY OR OTHER GROWTH INSIDE.In this case the obstruction may be near the orifice of the teat orhigher up, and the solid mass is not movable up and down with thesame freedom as are concretions and calculi. The movement is limitedby the elasticity of the inner membrane of the teat from which itgrows, and is somewhat freer in certain cases because the growth hasbecome loose and hangs by a narrow neck. In the case of the loosergrowths they may be snared by a finespring passed as a loop througha finetube (like a teat tube open at each end), and introduced into theteat. When this can not be done, the only resort is to cut in and exciseit while the cow is dry.THICKENING OF THE MUCOUS MEMBRANE AND CLOSURE OF THEMILK-DUCT.As a result of inflammation extending from without inward, a gradunarrowing of the milk-duct may occur from thickening and narrowingof its lining membrane. This may be limited to a small area near thelower end, or it may extend through the whole length of the teat.The stream of milk becomes finerand fineruntil it finallyceases altogether,and a firmcord is felt running through the teat. If the constrictionis only at the outlet the teat may be seized and distended bypressing the milk down into it from above, and an incision may be madewith a sharp penknife in two directions at right angles to each other,and directly in the original opening. The knife should be firstcleansedin boiling water. The opening may be kept from closing by a dumbbellshaped bougie of gutta-percha (Plate xxiv, Fig. 5) or by the springdilator. If the obstruction is more extended it may be perforated byLiithi's perforating sound. (Plate xxiv, Fig. la and lb.) This is a steelwire with a ring at one end, and at the other is screwed on to the wirea conical cap with sharp cutting edges at the base, which scrapes away