608 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



STU])TES IN THE DISEASES OF THE REPRODUCTrVE ORGANS 



OF CATTLE 



Tec'linical Bulletin No, 54 



r.Y E. T. HALLMAX 



PART I 



A PrtKLi.MixARY Report on the Pathology of Pyo:metra in Cattle 



INTRODUCTION 



The cases reported here were from two herds in which abortion disease has 

 caused more or less losses for the last six or eight years. Those who have had 

 much experience in the handling of herds affected with abortion disease ap- 

 preciate the frequency with which pj^ometra occurs as a sequel of abortion 

 infection and the difficulties encountered in its treatment. Little, if any, 

 work has been done in this country on the pathologj^ of this condition in cattle 

 and appreciating the importance of a knowledge of the pathology of any af- 

 fection as a guide in outlining a rational treatment the writer deemed it ad- 

 visable to devote some time to its study. The data presented here are not as 

 extensive as the writer would like but it is not easy to secure satisfactory cases 

 for pathological study and it is believed that this preliminary report is of 



sufficient importance to present for consideration. 



• 



Case No. 27 



History and Clinical Examination: Guernsej^'cow five years old, calved 

 March 9th, 1919 and retained the afterbirth. This was removed by an at- 

 tending veterinarian but was followed by considerable discharge for a few 

 days. Cow was bred on March 25, March 30th, April 30th, May 10th, and 

 May 19th, 1919. She was in heat again on May 29th and June 20th but was 

 not bred. A thick, yellowish vaginal discharge was observed when in heat 

 on June 20th. On June 22, 1919 a clinical examination demonstrated the 

 presence of about six ounces of a yellow muco-purulent exudate in the vagina, 

 the external os uteri relaxed, cervical mucosa moderately congested, the uterus 

 slightly enlarged and wall flaccid. There were two cysts each about ten 

 mm. in size in the right ovary. The cysts were then ruptured, and the uterus 

 irrigated with warm sodium bicarbonate solution followed by the injection 

 of one dram iodoform, two drams bismuth subnitrate and two ounces of min- 

 eral oil into the uterus. June 29th there is a small quantity of a yellow muco- 

 purulent exudate in vagina and the cervix is slightly congested. There is a 

 tumor-like swelling about five centimeters in diameter dorsal to the cervix, 

 and which contains a fluctuating fluid. The uterus is only moderately en- 

 larged. The uterus was again treated as noted above. On July 5th there is 

 some muco-purulent discharge in vagina. The peri-cervical abcess capsule is 

 more dense and contents less fluctuating than one week ago. Two ounces of 



