88o Veterinary Obstetrics 



from misinterpreting the gravity of the disease by the bodj' tem- 

 perature. The general appearance of the animal is of more im- 

 portance in determining the probable outcome than is the 

 question of temperature. If the animal looks somewhat bright, 

 and maintains a fair appetite, or the appetite, having been lost, 

 shows a tendency to return, such may be regarded as a favorable 

 omen. 



Locally we usually can determine more exactly the course of 

 the disease and its probable termination, by comparing the con- 

 ditions from day to day. The tumefaction of the vulva and 

 vagina, if it increases, indicates an unfavorable course of the 

 di.sease, which is heightened to a degree if the mucous membrane 

 of these passages becomes darker in color and necrotic. If, on 

 the other hand, the swelling of the vulva tends to di.sappear and 

 the mucous membrane to assume its normal color, the indications 

 are favorable. 



Within the uterus itself we meet with still more definite signs 

 as to the course of the disease. If the case is progressing favor- 

 ably, the uterine walls are less firm and become thinner ; the mu- 

 cous membrane graduallj' resumes its normal consistency and loses 

 its hard and smooth character, to become soft and velvety. When 

 the patient is improving satisfactorily, the uterine walls gradually 

 regain their contractile power, and the uterine cavity conse- 

 quently becomes smaller. The accumulation of disease products 

 in the uterine cavity decreases in volume ; the discharge loses its 

 fetor and tends to become more and more mucous in character, 

 until finally all appearances of pus cease, and the discharge is 

 entirely of mucus, .so far as the naked eye can observe. 



On the other hand, if the disea.se is progressing toward a fatal 

 termination, the uterine walls beconie more swollen and paretic, 

 while the discharge into the uterine cavity tends to increase and 

 become more purulent and fetid, and perhaps darker in color, 

 owing to a larger admixture of blood. 



Pathology. When metritis progresses to a fatal termination, 

 the post-mortem examination usually shows the chief lesions to 

 be i-n the genital tract, very largely in the uterus itself. Accom- 

 panying these changes there are general appearances throughout 

 the body of a profound septicaemia, followed by very rapid decom- 

 position of the body. In fact the decomposition has progressed 

 to an unusual degree before death, so that, if an autopsy is made 



