DISEASES OF CATTLE 191 



dung is passed with pain and effort. The hand inserted into the 

 vagina perceives the increased heat, and when the neck of the womb 

 is touched the cow winces with pain. Examination through the rec- 

 tum detects enlargement and tenderness of the womb. The discharge 

 from the vulva is at first watery, but becomes thick, yellow, and 

 finally red or brown, with a heavy or fetid color. Some cases recover 

 speedily and may be almost well in a couple of days ; a large propor- 

 tion perish within two days of the attack, and some merge into the 

 chronic form, terminating in leucorrhea. In the worst cases there 

 is local septic infection and ulceration, or even gangrene of the parts, 

 or there is general septicemia, or the inflammation involving the 

 veins of the womb causes coagulation of the blood contained in them, 

 and the washing out of the clots to the right heart and lungs leads 

 to blocking of the vessels in the latter and complicating pneumonia. 

 Inflammations of the womb and passages after calving are always 

 liable to these complications, and consequently to a fatal issue. 

 Franck records three instances of rapidly fatal metritis in cows, all 

 of which had been poisoned from an adjacent cow with retained and 

 putrid afterbirth. Others have had similar cases. 



Treatment. Treatment in the slight cases of simple inflamma- 

 tion does not differ much from that adopted for vaginitis, only care 

 must be taken that the astringent and antiseptic injections are made 

 to penetrate into the womb. After having washed out the womb a so- 

 lution of chloride of lime or permanganate of potash (one-half ounce 

 to 1 quart of water) , with an ounce each of glycerin and laudanum 

 to render it more soothing, will often answer every purpose. It is 

 usually desirable to open the bowels with 1% pounds Glauber's salts 

 and 1 ounce ginger in 4 quarts of warm water and to apply fomenta- 

 tions of warm water or even mustard poultices or turpentine to the 

 right flank. 



In the violent attacks with high temperature and much pros- 

 tration, besides the salts agents must 'be given to lower the tempera- 

 ture and counteract the septic poisoning. Salicylate of soda one-half 

 ounce, or quinia 2 drams, repeated every four hours, will help in 

 both ways, or ounce doses of hyposulphite of soda or dram doses of 

 carbolic acid may be given at equal intervals until six doses have 

 been taken. Tincture of aconite has often been used in 20-drop 

 doses every six hours. If the temperature rises to 106 or 107 F., 

 it must be met by the direct application of cold or iced water to the 

 surface. The animal may be covered with wet sheets and cold water 

 poured on these at intervals until the temperature in the rectum is 

 lowered to 102 F. In summer the cow may be allowed to dry spon- 

 taneously, while in winter it should be rubbed dry and blanketed. 

 Even in the absence of high temperature much good may be ob- 

 tained from the soothing influence of a wet sheet covering the loins 

 and flanks and well covered at all points by a dry one. This may be 

 followed next day by a free application of mustard and oil of tur- 

 pentine. When the animal shows extreme prostration alcohol (1 

 pint) or carbonate of ammonia (1 ounce) may be given to tide over 

 the danger, but such cases usually perish. 



