Effect of Infused Penicillin in the Bovine Mammary Gland

SummaryAqueous solutions of penicillin (sodium salt) containing 5,000 Oxford Units per ml had slight irritating effects on the normal bovine mammary gland as measured by physical examination of the gland, body temperature and changes in the character and quantity of milk. The largest dose infused was 40 ml (200,000 O.U.). Increase in body temperature, tremors and greater changes in the character of the milk were observed after penicillin was introduced in large volumes of water. Largest volume infused was 950 ml (190,000 O. U.). These effects may have been due to the pyrogenic properties in the water used.In glands infused with small volumes of water containing 5,000 O. U. per ml., the rate of decline of penicillin per ml of milk is greatest during the first 10 hours after which the decline is at a slower rate. The milk contained 0.5 or more units of penicillin per ml 24 hours after the infusion of 30,000 or more units. The disappearance rate from pathologic glands was of the same order as for the normal ...