Uterus 



3 1 6 [Uterus 



there will be generally found two or three 

 degrees of fever. There is generally loss of 

 flesh, though the abdomen will be noticed 

 large and harder than usual, and painful to 

 the touch. The symptoms gradually increase 

 in severity, and the bitch becomes very ill and 

 weak and refuses food of all kinds, and if 

 forced with any it generally induces vomiting. 

 About the third week there are signs of some 

 discharge from the vagina, pinkish in colour 

 and very offensive, which quickly increases in 

 quantity and seems to pour away, a small bitch 

 often getting rid of half a pint or more in a 

 short time. Once the discharge commences, 

 the bitch appears better, the temperature falls, 

 she is brighter and is inclined to take some 

 nourishment, but there is always a danger of 

 the matter accumulating again. When the 

 discharge does not come away through the 

 natural passage, the womb ruptures, inducing 

 acute peritonitis. Then there is a sudden 

 collapse of the patient, the mouth and limbs 

 go cold, the abdomen is very painful, the pulse 

 becomes very rapid and almost imperceptible, 

 and death occurs within twelve hours. 



Treatment: There is little to be done in 

 these cases. The bitch should be kept very 

 quiet, in a dry, warm place ; hot linseed-meal 

 poultices should be applied to the abdomen 

 for four or five hours daily — of course, being 

 changed from time to time. When the 

 poultices are removed, a flannel bandage is 

 to be placed round the abdomen. Hot boracic 



