57© Diseases of the Genital Organs 



If she survives, she rarely breeds. If but a few cotyledons 

 at the cervical end undergo necrosis, the prognosis is far 

 more hopeful and the animal frequently breeds. I have ob- 

 served in the abattoir one pregnant uterus in which all coty- 

 ledons had perished completely. When a cotyledon necroses 

 in toto, placental structures do not again form in that area. 

 Instead there is a white cicatrix. About this cicatrix (See 

 Colored Plate V) adventitious placental structures develop. 

 They lack the fineness of detail shown in Figs. 27 to 34 and 

 are irregular and defective. They are no longer cotyledonal 

 in type, but approach roughly the diffuse placenta of the 

 mare. 



(4) Metritis associated with retained fetal membranes is 

 sometimes so severe that the entire endometrium is de- 

 stroyed. The uterine epithelium can not then be renewed 

 and the denuded surface can not heal except possibly by ad- 

 hesion of the denuded surfaces totally oblitering the cavity. 

 Possibly this occurs sometimes. What I have observed is 

 illustrated in Fig. 183. Here the uterine mucosa has been 

 wholly displaced by granulation tissue which has contracted 

 until the uterine (and cornual) cavity consists of an irregu- 

 lar suppurating fistula barely admitting the passage of an 

 ordinary probe. The uterus was normal on rectal palpation, 

 the cervical canal was passable for the small uterine cathe- 

 ter, and attempts at douching the uterus resulted in the re- 

 turn of a few drops of pus. Probably at one time there had 

 been sclerotic metritis, as illustrated in Fig. 189, but during 

 an interval of three years after the termination of her last 

 pregnancy any sclerosis which may have been present might 

 well have disappeared to such a degree that it could not be 

 recognized by rectal palpation. 



The handling of retained fetal membranes is a trying 

 problem to the conscientious practitioner. Not the least 

 factor in rendering it trying is the frequent bombastic mis- 

 representation as to how easily it may be overcome by this 

 or that formula. Rules for handling are laid down by the 

 score and recommended as essentially infallible. This 

 creates the utmost confusion. There is no accepted stand- 



