Chronic Metritis in the Mare 893 



Recovery was now rapid, and she was discharged fully convalescent on 

 May 7, or thirteen days after the beginning of the treatment. 



Case 6. — A mare aged 14, weighing about 1,050 lbs., was entered in the 

 clinic on October 6, 1904, for poll-evil. During the operation for poll-evil, 

 under chloroform, there was a constant discharge of a very fetid black pus 

 from the vulva. A rubber hose was inserted into the uterus, and 4 gallons 

 of pus siphoned away. Upon the following day one and a half gallons of 

 pus were removed, and the uterus was washed with a solution of potassium 

 permanganate 1-500. Three of these injections were employed consecu- 

 tively, each consi.sting of 2'/^ gallons of the fluid. On the third da)- the 

 amount of pus collected in the uterus had decreased to one quart. The 

 treatment of the previous days was repeated. 



The accumulation of pus in the uterus gradually decreased from day to 

 day, and became lighter in color. On October 12 the pus had assumed the 

 ordinary muco-purulent character in colour and consistence, and was free 

 from odor. 



On the first day there appeared to be some blood clots in the discharge, 

 and the highly fetid pus had the appearance of broken-down melanotic tis- 

 sue. Microscopical examination of the pus revealed streptococci, and a 

 peculiar fungus which was apparently responsible for the color. 



From the beginning of our treatment the mare had received daily in her 

 feed Yz oz. of iodide of potash and % oz. powdered nux vomica. On Octo- 

 ber 18 the administration of potassium iodide and nux vomica was decreased 

 one-half ; the discharge was constantly growing lighter in color ; and the 

 pus was being replaced by mucus. 



During the entire course of treatment the os had been very much con- 

 stricted, and each day forcible dilation was attempted, but it was not until 

 the 20th that it was practicable to insert the entire hand into the uterus. 

 On the 22nd, the potassium permanganate injection was replaced by the car- 

 bolic acid, tannin and glycerine solution described in the previous cases. 

 On October 24 the same treatment was repeated, with the addition of one 

 ounce of powdered iodoform deposited in the uterus before the injection of 

 the disinfecting solution. On October 26 the os was well dilated, there was 

 a small amount of mucus present, the uterine walls were contracting, and 

 and the patient was convalescent. vShe was discharged on October 27, after 

 twenty-one days' treatment. 



Cask 7.— A mare, aged 7, weighing about 1,000 His. was entered in the 

 clinic on October 13, 1904, for chronic metritis. The owner related that she 

 had had a very pendulous abdomen for some time and had shown an inter- 

 mittent vaginal discharge. She had expelled a considerable quantity of pus 

 on the da}- of entrance. A rubber tube was inserted into the uterus, and 5 

 gallons of thick, whitish pus withdrawn. The cervix uteri was hard and 

 unyielding, and the os much constricted. The mucosa of the uterus felt 

 nmch thickened. Only two fingers could be passed through the os into the 

 uterus. The uterus was washed daily, up to October 20, with a solution of 

 permanganate of potash. On October 20 the permanganate of potash was 

 discontinued, and in its stead we injected into the cavity a solution consist- 



