DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 891 



VII. Metritis, or Inflammation of the "Womb. 



This affection is not very often seen in the cow, owing to her phleg- 

 matic temperament, and her proneness to other complications, arising at 

 an earlier stage, in connection with parturition. It is the result of in- 

 juries to the womb during difficult parturition ; it may developealso from 

 a cold caught at that time. The inflammation soon extends and involves 

 other parts, making a very serious condition indeed. See further in the 

 next section. 



VTII. Puerperal Fever, or Metro-Peritonitis. 



This disease is often confounded with parturient apoplexy, so that, 

 notwithstanding the difference between the two conditions, they are mis- 

 taken one for the other. Puerperal fever is erysipelatous inflammation 

 of the uterus and peritoneum, and may affect cows of all ages. The 

 antecedent facts will usually be found to be difficult parturition, exposure 

 to cold storms or extremes of temperature, retention of the placenta, or 

 overdriving prior to calving, and the like circumstances. Thin, poor 

 cows that have been changed suddenly from a dry, short pasture to rich 

 succulent feed at or near the time of calving, are especially apt to have it. 

 It may come on at any time from a few hours after calving up to the third 

 or fourth day. 



How to know it. — High fever, with all of its attendant symptoms, such 

 as dry, hot nose, horns and extremities hot or cold ; capricious appetite, 

 with rumination suspended ; colicky pains ; kicking at the belly ; getting 

 up and lying down frequently, — sometimes, remaining on the knees sev- 

 eral minutes. The head is turned towards the flanks ; the pulse is quick, 

 bard and wiry ; the respirations are accelerated, short and confined to the 

 thorax, so as to avoid moving the abdomen as much as possible ; the 

 belly is tucked up, the urine is scanty and high colored, and usually 

 there is constipation. All the symptoms, and especially the belly pains, 

 increase; prostration comes on ; finally, stupor (coma) sets in. Death 

 soon follows. 



Post mortem examination shows all the evidences of inflammation of 

 the womb and peritoneum, with purple spots here and there ; and the 

 brain is visibly affected, showing ecchymosed spots, etc. 



What to do. — Give recipe No. 2G, and supplement its action with injec- 

 tions of soap and water. Give No. 42 every two hours, till the pulse is 

 improved. If in the very early stages, a little blood may be drawn, but 

 this is not allowable after the first day. If the stupor comes on before 

 the purgative can be gotten down, give the latter through the stomach 

 pump, to avoid the danger of letting it run down into the lungs. Apply 



