SEPTIC METRITIS. 547 



Treatment is often very successful, but, as in all chronic dis- 

 eases, it extends over a considerable time. Practically it is not often 

 attempted. It does not differ greatly from that of ordinary acute vagi- 

 nitis, but the best results seem to follow the use of astringents. 



METRITIS. 



Infectious or traumatic diseases of the uterus are of the greatest 

 importance in bovine pathology, both on account of their frequency 

 and gravity. They comprise septic metritis, acute metritis, and chronic 

 metritis. 



SEPTIC METRITIS. 



Septic metritis is also termed "metro-peritonitis" and "parturient 

 septicaemia." It may be compared with puerperal fever in woman. 



These terms are sufficiently explicit to indicate that if at first the 

 metritis is typical it frequently becomes complicated with peritonitis, 

 and too often also with true septicaemia. 



Causation. The disease only appears after parturition or abortion, 

 and during the few days immediately succeeding delivery. Parturition 

 may occur spontaneously in a perfectly regular and easy manner, and 

 nevertheless be followed by fatal metritis as a consequence of infection. 

 Usually the labour has been difficult, and the after-birth, or portions 

 of the foetal membranes, have been retained. Septic metritis then 

 develops in consequence of their putrefaction. 



Infection with micro-organisms is therefore the essential cause, and 

 the only one of importance. None of the conditions formerly invoked 

 can do more than favour or check the course of this infection. 



Moreover, the subsequent complications are entirely due to the 

 special character of the infective agent. 



These infective agents may be of various descriptions. They have 

 been the subject of numerous investigations, on account of the gravity 

 of puerperal fever in woman. Pasteur, Colin, Chauveau and Doleris 

 were the first to take up this question. In veterinary medicine several 

 inquiries have been instituted, but a great deal remains to be done. 

 The most frequent agents are varieties of streptococci, of the colon 

 bacillus, and of putrefactive bacteria. 



Septic metritis may occasionally be purely accidental and only 

 affect one animal, but infection of stables by a primary case is an 

 obvious cause of propagation. Moussu has seen six animals succes- 

 sively die of septic metritis in one year, and in a stable which had 

 not been disinfected after each death. 



Symptoms. The first symptoms occur between the first and fourth 

 days after parturition, when the uterine mucous membrane is still 



N N 2 



