47 2 VETERINARY LECTURES 



driving the animal about, and dashing a few quarts of cold water 

 against the vulva, it will usually retain its position. 



798. Rupture of the Bladder I have met with, where the 

 mare had begun foaling during the night without assistance, and it 

 always has terminated fatally. 



799. Vaginitis, or Inflammation of the Vagina, like inflam- 

 mation of the womb, is mostly due to damage done during difficult 

 parturition. Treatment. — Irrigate the passage with Sanitas and 

 water, or phenyle and water, and give fever medicine as recom- 

 mended for metritis (par. 800) ; but should there be a great amount 

 of swelling externally, and extensive swelling and inflammation 

 internally, the hand must not be introduced, as it does much more 

 harm than good. 



800. Metritis, or Simple Inflammation of the Womb, in the 



mare, cow and ewe occasionally follows difficult parturition, when 

 it may result from too long retention of the foetus after the labour 

 pains have set in, or from extreme force having been exercised in 

 extraction of the young one. The inflammation, as a rule, com- 

 mences in the lining membrane of the womb, but soon extends to 

 the walls of that organ. It generally makes itself manifest within 

 a few hours after parturition, and is usually fatal. In the mare the 

 symptoms are at first slight colicky pains, the animal walking round 

 the box and sniffing the ground, at intervals standing still, hanging 

 the head, breathing quickly, nostrils dilated, greatly depressed, and 

 the secretion of milk totally suspended, with a foetid, chocolate- 

 coloured discharge from the womb, the pulse small and quick, 

 with a temperature of 106 to 107 F. In some cases the 

 inflammation leaves the womb — metastasis — and goes to the feet, 

 producing laminitis, or founder (par. 200). Treatment— Inject into 

 the womb, once a day, 4 to 6 quarts of water that has been 

 boiled and allowed to cool down to 90 F., and to which has been 

 added a teacupful of Condy's fluid or Sanitas. Give also 1 to 

 2 ounce doses of hyposulphite of soda every eight hours. For 

 further treatment, see par. 801. 



