882 Veterinary Obstetrics 



wound infection ; in fact we are essentially dealing with wound 

 infection of a particularly virulent type. 



The infection is usually mixed in character, and offers no dis- 

 tinction from that usually found in acute wound infection. 



Handling. The veterinarian should first of all observe care- 

 fully those general rules which tend to prevent the infection. 

 As in other operations of a surgical character, accompanied by 

 wounds or destruction of the protective epithelium, we know 

 that they may be caused without being followed by infection, if 

 certain precautions can be, or are, properly applied. We have 

 already urged, on page 620, that the veterinary obstetrist should 

 rigidly apply the rules of aseptic and antiseptic surgery, and have 

 there fully discussed the proper course to pursue. He should 

 remember that the introduction of his hand into the genital pas- 

 sages of a breeding female, just before, during or after parturi- 

 tion, is always accompanied by more or less grave possibilities 

 of infection, and consequently that such manual exploration 

 should not take place unless there is ample reason for it. 



A retained and decomposing fetus should be removed from the 

 uterus as early and carefully as possible, because it must other- 

 wise eventually induce metritis. If the fetal envelopes are re- 

 tained, they should be carefully handled along the lines which 

 we hav^e suggested on page 793, in order that their decomposition 

 in the uterus, and the infection of the organ therefrom, may be 

 avoided. 



When metritis and parturient fever have become established, 

 the gravity of the disease calls for prompt, vigorous and intelli- 

 gent handling. The first duty is the cleansing of the uterine and 

 vaginal cavities. If there is a large accumulation of purulent 

 material in the uterine cavity, its prompt removal is demanded. 

 The septic material may be flushed out by overfilling the uterus 

 with warm water, as described on page 875. 



It is not es.sential what antiseptic is used, but highly important 

 how it is used. Generally speaking, we desire the highest effi- 

 ciency with the least irritation. With the uterus in a highly in- 

 flamed state, the irritation from antiseptics is not so great as in 

 the normal organ, and consequently a comparatively strong solu- 

 tion may be used. However, we must constantly rely far more 

 upon the mechanical flu.shing out of the organ and the washing 

 away of the micro-organisms and their poisons than upon de- 



