458 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



into the uterus and left there. It should be heated to the 

 temperature of the body before introducing. It remains 

 in the uterine cavity for ten to fifteen days, undergoing 

 very gradual solution, tending constantly to disinfect the 

 uterine cavity and at the same time exerting a favorable 

 influence upon the infection in the cervix. The treatment 

 may be repeated several times and, when the uterus and 

 cervix seem to be in good condition, may be discontinued 

 for three or four weeks until the iodoform and bismuth 

 have disappeared. The animal may then be bred. The 

 heavy suspension of iodoform and bismuth in oil are best in- 

 troduced with a metallic syringe, as shown in Fig. 196. The 

 conical nozzle may be used, inserted into the end of the small 

 uterine catheter, and the suspension forced through this 

 into the uterus. If more convenient, the long curved nozzle, 

 which closely simulates the catheter itself, may be used and 

 the suspension injected directly into the uterine cavity with 

 the syringe. 



In conjunction with the injection into the uterus, any 

 cervicitis present should have attention. Sometimes there 

 may be present a retained corpus luteum which is interfer- 

 ing with the normal functions of the uterus. In such cases 

 the corpus luteum should be dislodged. If the estrual cycle 

 is normal and the estrum is apparently normal, the corpus 

 luteum should not be disturbed. 



B. Pyometra 



Pyometra occurs in heifers which are not known to have 

 conceived. There are several types : 



(1) There occurs from time to time an arrest in the de- 

 velopment of the ducts of Mueller, to which allusion has 

 been made in Chapter IV, by which the cervical canal Or 

 the canal of the uterus or one of the horns does not become 

 excavated, and consequently there occurs an accumulation 

 of menstrual debris, which sometimes becomes infected and 

 takes on the general character of an abscess of the uterine 

 horn. Presumably the infection is lodged within the cavity 

 of the horn or uterus during fetal life or in early calt'hood 

 and has finally become active in the presence of large vol- 



