DISEASES OF SHEEP 499 



place away from the rest of the flock. If weak a stimulant (whisky) 

 can be given. If the act of parturition is prolonged, the necessary 

 aid must be given but it is never best to meddle too soon. If the mem- 

 branes do not come away within a day or two after aborting they 

 must be removed with the hand and the uterus and maternal pas- 

 sages washed with a watery solution of creolin (two parts of creolin 

 to ninety-eight parts of water) . We must not neglect the removal of 

 the afterbirth or its retention will be followed by bad results. 



EVERSION OP THE UTERUS AND VAGINA. 



Causes. It consists in a displacement of the parts, in which 

 the uterus and vagina are turned partially or completely inside out, 

 the everted portion of the uterus escaping through the opening of the 

 neck of the womb and projecting like a large tumor from between the 

 lips of the vulva. 



Treatment. The eversion must receive prompt attention or 

 there is danger of the tissues becoming torn, bruised or gangrenous. 

 The parts must be first cleaned and the swelling reduced by washing 

 them with a warm watery solution of creolin. After this has been 

 accomplished, the next step is to replace them. The ewe should be 

 turned on her back and tne hind parts elevated and the uterus and 

 vagina returned to their natural positions. Strong stitches should 

 next be taken in the skin on each side of the vulva or through its lips, 

 and crossed in such a way as to prevent the recurrence of the dis- 

 placement. Care must be taken that the stitches do not interfere with 

 urination. If the uterus is badly lacerated or gangrenous, it can be 

 amputated and the ewe prepared for the butcher. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE VAGINA AND UTERUS, VAGINITIS METRITIS. 



Causes. If during labor the walls of the vagina or uterus be- 

 come torn or bruised, germs may enter and bring about an inflam- 

 mation of the parts. It may follow retention and decomposition of 

 the foetal membranes. Dirty instruments and dirty hands at the 

 time of birth frequently carry disease producing germs into the 

 uterus. Conditions here are favorable for their development and 

 may result in a fatal inflammation of the parts. 



Symptoms. The ewe is feverish, dull and weak; the appetite 

 is impaired and she frequently strains as if to pass urine. There is 

 more or less discharge from the inflamed parts and the lining mem- 

 brane of the vulva is red and tumefied. These symptoms may pass 

 off in a few days or become worse. The animal will stand with the 

 abdomen tucked up or lie down most of the time. The ewe may be 

 constipated or have a diarrhea, suffer considerable pain and have a 

 high temperature. The prognosis is generally unfavorable when the 

 disease takes a turn of this kind. In some cases the inflammation 

 becomes chronic. It is then called leucorrhoea, the principal symp- 

 tom being the discharge from the vagina. 



Treatment. The preventive treatment consists in practicing the 

 proper antiseptic precautions at the time of the birth and removing 

 the foetal membranes before decomposition has occurred. Before as- 

 sisting in removal of the foetus the hands and instruments must be 

 cleaned by washing the hands and allowing the instruments to lie in 



