Gfamdar Venereal Disease of Cows iiii 



Bacillol appears to possess some very important advantages as 

 a disinfectant in this disease. The saponaceous solution breaks 

 up and washes away the vulvo-vaginal discharges apparently 

 more completely than any other disinfectant we have tested. 

 Permanganate of potash seems to precipitate the muco-purulent 

 discharge and cause it to remain in place, and other disinfectants 

 behave somewhat similarly. I^ysol, cresol, and some other drugs 

 of this group, may prove quite as efficient. One party reports good 

 results with o.oi% corrosive sublimate. Ointments, highly 

 recommended by European writers, have failed in our hands. 

 Perhaps we have introduced them too deeply into the vagina, 

 when they should have been placed in the vulva only. Ap- 

 parently 6o-go days are required for successful treatment. 



The handling of bulls should be similar to that advised for 

 cows. With a gravity apparatus, we irrigate the sheath of the 

 penis daily with 0.75% bacillol. We use, for inserting into the 

 sheath, a pure gum horse catheter. We direct that after the in- 

 sertion, the preputial orifice be held shut until the sheath is 

 fully distended and all mucous folds obliterated, so that the 

 fluid shall reach every part. 



In the presence of pyometra, the vaginal irrigations with 

 warm bacillol solutions seems to favor the normal contraction of 

 the uterine walls and emptying of the cavity. This may be 

 aided by massaging the distended, paretic organ, from before, 

 backwards, through the rectum. As soon as the ovaries can be 

 reached per rectum, any cysts or persistent yellow bodies should 

 be crushed out. When an affected cow calves or aborts, the 

 uterine cavity should at once receive careful attention. It 

 should be thoroughly irrigated with the warm, 0.75% bacillol 

 solution, three or four times daily till the afterbirth comes away. 

 When the afterbirth is easily detached, it may be manually re- 

 moved . 



After the expulsion of the afterbirth, the uterine cavity should 

 be irrigated once or twice daily as long as the cervical canal re- 

 mains open and uterine discharge continues. Any neglect in 

 this respect ma}^ lead to a chronic uterine infection to be followed 

 by sterility or abortion. For a full discussion of retention of 

 the afterbirth see page 791. 



The prophylaxis of the disease is important and economic. In 

 introducing new animals into a sound herd, precautions should 



