DISEASES OF THE GENITAL ORGANS 119 



cells; the fat is in part derived from the blood. The milk secre- 

 tion is under the influence of secretory and vasomotor nerves. 

 The quantity and composition are influenced by numerous other 

 factors, as feed, breed, age, lactation period, time of day, work, and 

 exercise and individuality. On this account, the chemical com- 

 position is very variable. The average water content is 87.5 per 

 cent.; the average per cent, of dry matter is 12.5, including 3.3 per 

 cent, fat, 4 per cent, protein, 4.5 per cent, sugar and 0.7 per cent, 

 salts. The reaction is amphoteric, due to the presence of alkaline 

 and acid salts. Curdling of milk may result from different causes 

 (rennet ferment, lactic acid ferment, acids, mastitis). 



1. ECBOLICS. ABORTIVES 



Synonyms: Uterines, ectrotics, amblotics, pellentica, odinegogues, par- 

 turefacients, emmenagogues, abortive medicines, expelling, foetus-expelling 

 medicines. 



Actions and Uses. — Drugs exerting a specific action upon the 

 uterus produce either a contraction or hyperaemia of that organ. 

 The result of the action differs with the condition of the uterus. If 

 the uterus is in the act of contracting upon the foetus to expel it — 

 i.e., if the period of pregnancy has terminated and labor has begun, 

 — then the ecboHcs increase the force of the contractions and 

 hasten the expulsion of the foetus. This is the only purpose for 

 which they are of value in veterinary therapeutics. They are 

 therefore administered not before but (1) during parturition, after 

 the beginning of labor pains, to stimulate insufficient uterine con- 

 tractions in difficult parturition, also in relaxation of the muscles 

 of the uterus, and (2) after parturition, to produce contraction of 

 the relaxed puerperal uterus and thereby cause the more prompt 

 expulsion of the fcetal membranes. 



The ecbolics will also cause abortion when the full term of 

 pregnancy is not completed. The abortion results either from 

 the contraction of the muscles of the uterus, or from pronounced 

 hyperaemia of the uterus with hemorrhage into the foetal mem- 

 branes and into the mucous membrane of the uterus. But the 

 abortive action of drugs is always accompanied by other effects 



