DISEASES OF THE UTERUS 217 



call}^ in the same condition as an open wound, the septic materials are 

 taken up very quickly and every condition is favorable for their propaga- 

 tion. Collections of blood, decidual tissue, etc., exposed to the air decay 

 very ciuickly, and where there is any erosion of the mucous membrane of 

 the vagina or the cervix, or even the uterus at the points of placental at- 

 tachment, the poison is taken up and enters the tissues and is carried into 

 the circulation. The eroded portion of the uterus that has taken up any 

 of the septic material soon presents an ulcerated surface which is covered 

 by a necrotic or diphtheritic coating, and in some cases the vagina be- 

 comes intensely swollen, is dark brown or reddish-brown in color, and 

 covered with spots of diphtheritic ulcerations. 



The inflammatory process extends rapidly from the mucous mem- 

 ])rane into the deeper tissues, affecting the muscular and the pelvic cellu- 

 lar tissues, and also the lips of the pudenda, and from the internal surface 

 of the uterus it extends to the uterine muscles and the broad ligament, 

 and in acute cases to the serous covering of the uterus and the peritoneum. 

 When the acute symptoms are present (perimetritis and parametritis) 

 ptomaines and septic material enter the circulation and cause acute septic 

 fever. The prognosis is generally unfavorable. 



Clinical Symptoms. — The vulva and the mucous membrane of the 

 vagina are swollen and livid red, and discharge copious masses of dis- 

 colored, fcEtid pus. In the earlier stages the animal shows great pain on 

 pressure to the abdomen; the pulse is very fast, thready and finally be- 

 comes imperceptible. The respirations increase in number. The tempera- 

 ture in the early stages is increased, but soon falls, becoming subnormal 

 toward the end. The mucous membranes of the mouth and conjunctiva 

 are livid, an offensive diarrhoea commences, and the expired air from the 

 lungs smells of decayed tissue. 



When the animal presents the acute symptoms early and does not eat 

 or drink from the onset, it soon becomes comatose and dies in from twelve 

 to twenty-four hours. 



Therapeutics. — In such cases to get any favorable results treatment 

 must be prompt and energetic. The uterus and the vagina must be 

 thoroughly irrigated with antiseptic fluids, and also the general treatment 

 indicated in septicaemia. For antiseptic irrigating fluids we use creolin, 

 2 per cent, solution; lysol, 1 to 100; actol (1 to 1000) ; formalin (2 to 50); 

 corrosive sublimate, 1 to 2000 solution. First irrigate the uterus with warm 

 water using the double catheter shown in Fig. 88, and clean it thoroughly 

 until there is no discoloration in the escaping fluids; then inject the medi- 

 cated solution into the uterus several times; repeat this several times daily. 

 As a stimulant, use whiskey, brandy, camphor, either internally, or sub- 

 cutaneously; the latter is best, as you are apt to get quicker results, and 

 you also avoid the danger of the animal vomiting it, which it is very apt to 



