462 Veterinary Obstetrics 



essential that the death has been brought about by some 

 cause which has not been dependent upon, or accompanied by, 

 an opening of the cervical canal and that no infection has 

 gained access to the fetus or its membranes. 



The symptoms of death and mummification of the fetus are 

 negative. No signs of disease are present. It may first be 

 suspected when the animal is found to be .sterile, without signs 

 of estrum. While the fetus is alive there is no departure from 

 the ordinary signs of pregnancy and when it peri.shes the event 

 is not marked by any external manifestations. The signs of 

 pregnancy, however, cease to accumulate : the abdomen does 

 not increa.se further in size ; the milk glands do not continue to 

 develop. On the other hand, there is no external evidence that 

 the animal is not pregnant. The presence of the mummified 

 fetus prevents ovulation and estrum. The cow remains quiet 

 and tends to fatten. Finally she passes her normal period for 

 calving and no signs of parturition, or the approach of it, appear. 

 If at this period a careful examination be made per rectum, it 

 will be found that the uterus contains a hard, rigid, unyielding 

 ma.ss, in which some parts of the fetus may be recognized. The 

 fetal fluids have largely disappeared and the uterus closely in- 

 vests the munim}'. If undisturbed, the mummy remains in- 

 definitely in the uterus as a permanent source of sterility. In 

 some rare cases, for reasons unknown, the mummy is expelled 

 after a variable duration of time and the cow may again ovulate 

 and conceive. 



In the vast majorit}'^ of cases the condition is not discovered or 

 su.spected. The cow, remaining unfruitful for a long period of 

 time and in the meantime becoming fat, is .sold to the butcher, 

 and upon slaughter the actual condition is discovered. 



The treatment of this condition neces.sarily falls under the 

 head of vSterility. Except as a cause of sterility, mummification of 

 the fetus is without significance and does not injure in any 

 way the well-being of the mother nor affect the value of her flesh 

 for human food. 



•When an examination is made to discover the cause of sterility 

 and the presence of the mummified fetus is discovered, the only 

 course to pursue is clearly that of the extraction of the fetal ca- 

 daver. If it can be determined by rectal exploration that the corpus 

 luteum resulting from the pregnancy still persists, it would appear, 



