DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 159 



DROPSY OF THE AMNION. 



This differs from simple dropsy of the womb in tliat the fluid col- 

 lects in the inner of the two water bags (that in which the foal floats) 

 and not in the otherwise void cavity of the womb. This affection 

 can occur only in the pregnant animal, while dropsy of the womb 

 occurs in the unimpregnated. The blood of the pregnant mare con- 

 tains an excess of water and a smaller proportion of albumen and red 

 globules, and when this is still further aggravated by poor feeding 

 and other unhygienic conditions there is developed the tendency to 

 liquid transudation from the vessels and dropsy. As the watery con- 

 dition of the blood increases with advancing pregnancy, so dropsy of 

 the amnion is a disease of the last four or five months of gestation. 

 The abdomen is large and pendulous, and the swelling fluctuates 

 under pressure, though the solid body of the fetus can still be felt to 

 strike against the hand pressed into the swelling. If the hand is 

 introduced into the vagina, the womb is found to be tense and round, 

 with the projecting rounded neck effaced, while the hand in the 

 rectum will detect the rounded swollen mass of the womb so firm and 

 tense that the body of the fetus can not be felt within it. The mare 

 moves weakly and unsteadily on her limbs, having difficulty in sup- 

 porting the great weight, and in bad cases there may be loss of appe- 

 tite, stocking (dropsy) of the hind limbs, difficult breathing, and 

 colicky pains. The tension may lead to abortion, or a slow, labo- 

 rious parturition may occur at the usual time. 



Treatment consists in relieving the tension and accumulation by 

 puncturing the fetal membrane with a canula and trocar introduced 

 through the neck of the womb and the withdrawal of the trocar so 

 as to leave the canula in situ. Or the membranes may be punctured 

 with the finger and the excess of liquid allowed to escape. This may 

 bring on abortion, or the wound may close and gestation continue to 

 the full term. A course of tonics (gentian root 2 drams, sulphate of 

 iron 2 drams, daily) will do much to fortify the system and counteract 

 further excessive effusion. 



DROPSY OF THE LIMBS, PERINEUM, AND ABDOMEN. 



The disposition to dropsy often shows itself in the hind and even 

 in the fore limbs, around and beneath the vulva (perineum), and be- 

 neath the abdomen and chest. The affected parts are swollen and 

 pit on pressure, but are not especially tender, and subside more or 

 less perfectly under exercise, hand rubbing, and bandages. In ob- 

 stinate cases rubbing with the following liniment may be resorted to : 

 Compound tincture of iodine, 2 ounces; tannic acid, one-half dram; 

 water, 10 ounces. It does not last over a day or two after parturition. 



