462 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



tents, but when the distal end of the catheter was lowered 

 no fluid was obtained. I began to wonder why it should 

 behave in this way. More fluid was then introduced into 

 the uterus and, while it was still flowing in, the distal end 

 of the catheter was compressed, lowered, and then released. 

 Pus commenced to siphon out and the uterus was relieved 

 of three to four gallons. I have had similar experience in 

 cows where the same error has been made with the siphon 

 and the veterinarian led to believe that no pus or other 

 pathologic contents is present. The difficulty is that, when 

 the fluid is being introduced by gravity, if the veterinarian 

 is not cautions, it all passes at once into the paretic uterine 

 cavity, exhausting the column of fluid in the catheter essen- 

 tial to the process of siphoning. 



The prognosis of this rather rare condition is highly un- 

 favorable. I have not had an opportunity for post-mortem 

 examination, but suspect that it originates as hydrometra 

 (which see) and later the fluid becomes infected and puru- 

 lent, the uterus remaining absolutely paretic. The uterine 

 mucosa is probably completely destroyed, and hence the 

 animal is absolutely sterile. If one has reason to believe 

 otherwise, the only treatment which can be suggested at 

 present is to siphon out the contents frequently, douche the 

 cavity well with disinfectants, such as 2 per cent. Lugol's 

 solution, which must be carefully removed, and then intro- 

 duce slow-dissolving disinfectants, such as iodoform and 

 bismuth, in the hope that the diseased condition may in this 

 way be overcome. 



2. The Infections of the Gravid Uterus 



A. Apical Endometritis with Necrosis of the 

 Apices of the Fetal Sac 



When considering the development of the fetal membranes 

 in Chapter I, it was noted that the tips of the fetal sacs of 

 ruminants and swine regularly become necrotic, as shown in 

 Figs. 34, 35. This is regarded as normal by some embryolo- 

 gists, but careful study in the abattoir denies this assump- 

 tion. The necrotic tip is regularly of a dirty yellowish- 



