644 • ^^ THOL OG Y OF PAR TURITION. 



by lying down and getting up, stamping, striking at the belly, and turning 

 the head towards the flanks, whisking the tail, and making more or less 

 energetic expulsive efforts. Signs of pain or lameness in the hind-limbs 

 become apparent. When the uterus is more inflamed, the animal does 

 not lie down, because of the increase of pain produced by pressure on 

 the abdomen. The smaller animals, however, maintain the recumbent 

 position. 



A very marked symptom is the tumefaction of the vulva — the labia 

 of which are separated — and the discharge therefrom of a fluid, at first 

 serous, and either transparent or ha*^ing a yellow, chocolate, or reddish 

 tinge ; then it becomes gradually thicker and more abundant, and be- 

 comes modified according to the termination of the disease. Manual ex- 

 ploration of the vagina discovers it to be very hot and sensitive, particu- 

 larly towards the cervix uteri ; and when its lining membrane is exposed, 

 it is observed to be swollen and reddened, and sometimes there are found 

 diphtheritic ulcers and croupous deposits on the inflamed surface. In 

 some cases, when the uterus is very much swollen, and particularly in 

 lean, flat-sided animals, the inflamed organ can be felt on the right side, 

 and pressure on the abdomen often, but not invariably, causes pain. 

 Rectal exploration generally discovers the uterus larger than natural, and 

 more or less distended by gas. 



Defecation is painful, and the faeces are hard. 



The Mare attacked by metritis or metro-peritonitis, generally maintains 

 the standing posture, with the back arched and rigid, and marked indis- 

 position to move : only lying down on the approach of death, or towards 

 convalescence ; whereas flie Cow persists in lying, and this has been 

 supposed to be due to paralysis of the hind-quarters, but it is more prob- 

 ably owing to debility or prostration induced by the pain. 



In ruminants there is generally distention of the rumen with gas ; there 

 are also acid eructations, and even regurgitations. When the temperature 

 rises very high — and it may reach \2° Cent. — death is certain. 



When metro-peritonitis is present, there always occurs — and sometimes 

 very rapidly — an effusion of serum into the abdominal cavity. When this 

 is in large quantity, the abdomen becomes enlarged and rounded, as if the 

 animal had been feeding freely. There is then dulness on percussion in 

 the lower region of the abdomen, contrasting markedly with the tympan- 

 itic resonance of the upper regions ; while sudden pressure by means of 

 the open hand on one part while the other hand is placed at another 

 point, will cause a perceptible movement of the fluid. 



Terminations. 



• The course of metritis, metro-peritonitis, and parturient septikaemia, is 

 generally very rapid, and may not occupy more than a few days — usually 

 three or four, rarely five or six days. In some cases a chronic form may 

 be met with — and particularly in simple metritis, due to retention of the 

 fcetal membranes, and sometimes to abortion. But these exceptions are 

 few, and the disease or diseases just named may be designated as serious, 

 when we learn that death carries off more than one-half of the number of 

 animals attacked. 



Though so serious, however, in those animals which are about to re- 

 cover convalescence ensues very rapidly, especially with the Cow. As 

 Saint-Cyr observes, a few hours often suffice to bring about such a change 



