190 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



Symptoms. The main symptom is the glairy white discharge 

 flowing constantly or intermittently (when the cow lies down), soil- 

 ing the tail and matting its hairs and those of the vulva. When the 

 lips of the vulva are drawn apart the mucous membrane is seen to be 

 red, with minute elevations, or pale and smooth. The health may 

 not suffer at first, but if the discharge continues and is putrid the 

 health fails, the milk shrinks, and flesh is lost. If the womb is in- 

 volved the hand introduced into the vagina may detect the mouth of 

 the womb slightly open and the liquid collected within its cavity. 

 Examination with the oiled hand in the rectum may detect the out- 

 line of the womb beneath, somewhat enlarged, and fluctuating under 

 the touch from contained fluid. In some cases heat is more frequent 

 or intense than natural, but the animal rarely conceives when served, 

 and, if she does, is likely to abort. 



Treatment. Treatment with the injections advised for vaginitis 

 is successful in mild or recent cases. In obstinate ones stronger solu- 

 tions may be used after the womb has been washed out by a stream 

 of tepid water until it comes clear. A rubber tube is inserted into 

 the womb, a funnel placed in its raised end, and the water, and after- 

 wards the solution, poured slowly through this. If the neck of the 

 womb is so close that the liquid can not escape, a second tube may be 

 inserted to drain it off. As injections may be used chlorid of zinc, 

 one-half dram to the quart of water, or sulphate of iron, 1 dram to 

 the quart. Three drams of sulphate of iron and one-half ounce 

 ground ginger may also be given in the food daily. 



INFLAMMATION OP THE WOMB (METRITIS, INFLAMMATION O.F WOMB 

 AND ABDOMEN, OR METROPERITONITIS) . 



Inflammation of the womb may be slight or violent, simple or 

 associated with putrefaction of its liquid contents and general poison- 

 ing, or it may extend so that the inflammation affects the lining 

 membrane of the whole abdominal cavity. In the last two cases the 

 malady is a very grave one. 



Causes. The causes are largely the same as those causing in- 

 flammation of the vagina. Greater importance must, however, be 

 attached to exposure to cold and wet and septic infection. 



Symptoms. The symptoms appear two or three days after calv- 

 ing, when the cow may be seen to shiver, or the hair stands erect, 

 especially along the spine, and the horns, ears, and limbs are cold. 

 The temperature in the rectum is elevated by one or two degrees, the 

 pulse is small, hard, and rapid (70 to 100) , appetite is lost, rumina- 

 tion, ceases, and the milk shrinks in quantity or is entirely arrested, 

 and the breathing is hurried. The hind limbs may shift uneasily, 

 the tail be twisted, the head and eyes turn to the right flank, and the 

 teeth are ground. "With the flush of heat to the horns and other ex- 

 tremities, there is redness of the eyes, nose, and mouth, and usually a 

 dark redness about the vulva. Pressure on the right flank gives man- 

 ifest pain, causing moaning or grunting, and the hind limbs are 

 moved stiffly, extremely so if the general lining of the abdomen is 

 involved. In severe cases the cow lies down and can not be made to 

 rise. There is usually marked thirst, the bowels are costive, and 



