Pyometra 599 



fluid, and the uterus is very flabby, the fluid will drop into 

 the inert uterus and the siphon be destroyed. 



The pathologic changes in pyometra have not been ex- 

 tensively studied histologically. As observed macroscopi- 

 cally, the uterine walls are thickened and somewhat sclero- 

 tic. In the abattoir, when examined on the killing floor, the 

 mucosa is usually of a dark bluish or bluish-black color, 

 roughened and showing evidences of partial destruction. 

 It is only very rarely that the mucosa has undergone total 

 necrosis. In many cases the mucosa is nodular or granular, 

 as indicated in Fig. 184. The elevations are pale yellow and 

 suggestive at first glance of tuberculosis. The most sug- 

 gestive element seen with the naked eye is the extensive 

 changes in the uterine mucosa, which will demand for re- 

 covery a comparatively long time. Brief and fragmentary 

 bacteriologic studies of pyometra indicate that the pus in- 

 fection is as varied as that of wounds. There is no evidence 

 to indicate that the bacteria present are specifically different 

 from those prevailing in wound infections. 



The prognosis of pyometra must be based upon the inter- 

 pretation of the pathologic changes which are present. 

 The two immovable barriers to reproductive recovery are 

 total destruction of the endometrium and the extension of 

 the infection into the oviducts. Both conditions are diffi- 

 cult of positive recognition. The outlook for the life and 

 the general health of the patient is good, and if it may be 

 safely assumed that the uterine mucosa is not destroyed 

 and the oviducts not irremediably involved, the breeding 

 life of the animal can probably be preserved. The treatment 

 consists essentially of the dilation of the cervical canal, the 

 removal of the purulent contents, the disinfection of the 

 uterine cavity, and the removal of the corpus luteum, if 

 present. The dilation of the cervical canal, as advised 

 for diagnosis, suffices. The removal of the pus is best 

 accomplished by means of the seven-foot bull-douching 

 catheter with a hospital irrigator fitted with a stop- 

 cock. The catheter is introduced into the uterus as for 

 diagnosis and sufficient physiologic salt solution gravi- 



