PARTIAL RETENTION OF SECUNDINES 99 



These irrigations must be copious, and should be 

 I'epeated two or three times daily as long as it is pos- 

 sible to enter the tube and properly drain out the solu- 

 tion. If doubt exists about being able to thoroughly 

 siphon off the fluid which it is intended to inject the 

 injections had better not be given. The retention of 

 quantities of antiseptic solutions, or even sterile water, 

 may evoke sufficient irritation and straining to pro- 

 duce severe complications; such, for instance, as vag- 

 inal prolapse. Usually the veterinarian does not get 

 the case until the os has contracted so that the opening 

 will barely admit a small finger. In that case w^e do 

 not advise the use of the antiseptic irrigations, and it 

 is extremely doubtful whether any form of treatment 

 is of actual benefit. The effect of remedial agents ad- 

 ministered orally is very uncertain and hardly worth 

 the trouble. 



Cachexia. — In some cases resulting from a partial re- 

 tention of the after-birth we see very w^ell-marked 

 systemic effects. The cow slowly loses weight and 

 gradually wastes aw^ay. At the end of several months 

 she is a weak, wabbly critter with a staring coat and 

 general unthrifty appearance. She has become a 

 "boarder," giving little or no milk; as a rule she is 

 barren. If she is carefully fed she may eventually re- 

 gain some semblance of her former condition. In most 

 instances, however, if she does not develop an acute 

 attack of pyo-metra and die, she is sold to the butcher. 



Treatment is far from satisfactory. If antiseptic 

 irrigations of the uterus are possible they can be used 

 with some benefit. Tonics and good feed help some. 

 In occasional cases mixed bacterins seem to do much 

 good. 



Many of these cases apparently respond nicely to 

 treatment at first, then suddenly relapse. Soon they 



