400 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



and the control over the lower bowel is never fully reacquired. 

 The successful stitching up of the wound communicating 

 with the bladder or the rectum^ requires unusual skill and 

 care, and though I have -succeeded in a case of the latter 

 kind I cannot advise the attempt by unprofessional persons. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE WOMB AND PERITONEUM. 



These may result from injuries sustained by the womb 

 during or after parturition, from exposure to cold or wet, or 

 from the irritant action of putrid products within the womb. 

 Under the inflammation the womb remains dilated and 

 flaccid and decomposition of its secretions almost always oc- 

 curs, so that the inflammation tends to assume a putrid 

 character and general septic infection is likely to occur. 



The symptoms are ushered in by shivering, staring coat, 

 small rapid pulse, elevated temperature, accelerated breath- 

 ing, inappetence, with arched back, stiff movement of the 

 body, looking back at the flanks, and uneasy motions of the 

 hind limbs, discharge from the vulva of a liquid at first 

 watery, reddish, or yellowish, and later it may be whitish or 

 glairy, and fetid or not in different cases. Tenderness of 

 the abdomen shown on pressure is especially characteristic 

 of cases affecting the peritoneum or lining of the belly, and 

 is more marked lower down. If the animal survives the in- 

 flammation tends to become chronic and is attended by a 

 whitish muco-purulent discharge. If on the contrary it 

 proves fatal death is preceded by extreme prostration and 

 weakness from the general septic poisoning. 



In treatment the first thing to be sought is the removal of 

 all offensive and irritant matters from the womb through a 

 caoutchouc tube introduced into the womb and into which a 

 funnel is fitted. Warm water should be passed until it comes 

 away clear. To insure that all of the womb has been washed 

 out the oiled hand may be introduced to carry the .end of the 

 tube into the two horns successively. When the offensive 

 contents have been thus removed the womb should be in- 

 jected with a quart of water holding in solution one-half 

 ounce permanganate of potash, or in the absence of the 

 latter two teaspoonfuls of carbolic acid. Repeat twice 



