216 DISEASES OF THE URIXARY AND SEXUAL APPARATUS 



membranes; the course may be acute or become chronic; the causes are 

 miechanical injuries which the uterus may be subjected to during labor 

 or immediately after; cold may be said to be a predisposing cause. 



The clinical symptoms are as follows: The vulva is slightly red- 

 dened and swollen, and there is a copious discharge from the vulva; this is 

 purulent, sometimes bloody or slightly putrid, and is much increased in 

 quantity after the passage of feces or urine; but the animal licks it off so 

 soon that the observer must look immediately after each evacuation or it 

 may escape his notice. Some bitches carry their tails in a 

 curved position when suffering from this condition, are 

 uneasy and occasionally strain; some animals have com- 

 plete loss of appetite, and in some cases slight fever is 

 present. As a rule, the discharge lessens and disappears in 

 a few weeks or it may become chronic, and there is an abun- 

 dant discharge of white or whitish-yellow purulent creamy 

 fluid (leukorrlnea, fluor albus) ; the animal becomes emaci- 

 ated, loses flesh and has a stairy, rough coat. In some 

 cases there is a gradual swelling and obstruction of the os 

 uteri, the purulent material is held in the uterus (pyo- 

 metra), pyemia develops, and death occurs in a short time. 

 External manipulation through the abdominal wall may 

 find the uterus greatly increased in volume, and on digital 

 examination per rectum the vagina is found to be drawn 

 into the abdominal cavity. 



The therapeutics consist in tepid injections of non- 

 Double catheter poisonous autiscptic fluids, such as permanganate of po- 

 ^"th'e^'u'tiL"''^ tassium (1 per cent, solution), boric-acid (2 per cent.), and 

 creolin (1 per cent.), tannic acid (2 percent.), solution of 

 corrosive sublimate (1 to 2000.) In using these solutions it is best to use 

 the irrigator with the two catheters (Fig. 88) ; in one opening the fluid is 

 forced through into the uterus and allowed to circulate and flow out of 

 the other opening. The uterus must first be thoroughly rinsed out with 

 luke-warm water before the medicinal irrigations are applied. If the os 

 uteri is contracted, it can be dilated by means of a bougie. In the 

 chronic form (dysmenorrhcea) we should use injections of ergot or sabine 

 oil. In chronic cases, with persistent foetid discharge, the uterus should 

 be removed. 



(2) Septic Metritis. Gangrenous, Ichorous Inflammation of the Uterus 

 {Puerperal Fever). — Septic inflammation of the uterus should be con- 

 sidered a disease of wound infection in which we find intense irritation of 

 the uterus and vagina, accompanied by violent constitutional disturbances. 

 During and after labor septic materials find their way into the uterus 

 and, owing to the condition of the uterus at that time, when it is practi- 



Fig. SS. 



