Infections of the Ovum, Embryo and Fetus 483 



desiccation is illustrated in Figs. 166-168. An old uterine 

 hematoma of puerperal origin may also lead to confusion in 

 diagnosis. The uterine hematoma is firm, doughy, and gen- 

 erally regular in outline. I have met one old, greatly desic- 

 cated, tesselated hematoma of the uterus which clinically 

 might well have given trouble in diagnosis and might have 

 been mistaken for the skeleton of a fetus. But the crepitus 

 is absent. The history that the animal has or has not been 

 bred may aid, though this is sometimes erroneous and adds 

 to the confusion. The prognosis in advanced fetal macera- 

 tion is virtually hopeless for the breeding life of the ani- 

 mal. When it has continued for some months, the endome- 

 trium is ordinarily destroyed and the suppurative process 

 has extended into the oviducts, inducing incurable pyo- 

 salpinx. I have not known a cow to conceive after having 

 suffered from prolonged fetal maceration. Possibly some 

 of them may breed. 



The handling of fetal maceration offers many difficulties. 

 The cervix is usually extensively inflamed and sclerotic, and 

 the dilation of its canal is difficult and dangerous. Forcible 

 dilation is liable to cause serious lacerations, or the sclerotic 

 tissues may rupture, causing an opening into the peritoneal 

 cavity. Uterine contractions tending to expel the cadaver 

 may be induced by dislodging the corpus luteum, but the 

 corpus has sunken deeply into the center of the gland (the 

 embedded corpus luteum of pyometra) and is difficult to 

 dislodge. Sometimes the ovary is dragged far downward 

 and forward in a manner to render it difficult to carry the 

 ovary back over the vagina through the wall of which vig- 

 orous compression can be exerted without danger. The 

 corpus may be dislodged by compression per rectum, but 

 this requires extreme care in order to avoid severe or dan- 

 gerous rectal lesions. The corpus may always be dislodged 

 by performing laparotomy, inserting the hand into the peri- 

 toneal cavity, and compressing the ovary directly. But the 

 succeeding uterine contractions will generally fail to expel 

 the cadaver. The jagged bones become caught in the uter- 

 ine walls, causing wounds and preventing expulsion. The 



