446 



Diseases of the Genital Organs 



The prognosis for pyosalpinx and for tubo-ovarian ab- 

 scess is necessarily hopeless, so far as the diseased side is 

 concerned. It is highly important that a careful diagnosis 

 should be made, so that pyosalpinx, or tubo-ovarian abscess, 

 shall not be mistakenly treated for some other lesion, at 

 great peril to the animal. In some tubes distended with 

 pus, and perhaps in some cases of large tubo-ovarian ab- 

 scesses, the walls could be readily ruptured by pressure per 

 rectum, causing a fatal peritonitis. Therefore it is highly 

 important that the veterinarian shall not mistake tubo- 

 ovarian abscesses for ovarian cysts and rupture the ab- 

 scesses into the peritoneal cavity, with fatal results. As a 

 general rule, the prudent veterinarian will let pyosalpinx 

 alone. In exceptional cases, where the pus seems to be well 

 walled off, is confined to one side, and is inhibiting ovulation 



FiG, 157 Tubo-Ovarian Abscess. Cow. 

 /, Vagina and cervix seen from ventral side ; 2, left uterine eornu ; J, tubo- 



ovarian abscess ; /, cross section of oviduct filled with pus. 



