244 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



detached. If carefully conducted, so as not to tear the cotyledons of 

 the womb, the operation is eminently successful; the cow suffers little, 

 and the straining roused by the manipulations soon subsides. Keeping 

 in a quiet, dark place, or driving a short distance at a walking pace, 

 will serve to quiet these. When the membranes have been withdrawn 

 the hand, half closed, may be used to draw out of the womb the offensive 

 liquid that has collected. If the case is a neglected one, and the dis- 

 charge is very offensive, the womb must be injected as for leucorrhcea. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE VAGINA VAGINITIS. 



This may occur independently of inflammation of the womb, and usually 

 as the result of bruises, lacerations, or other injuries sustained during 

 calving. It will be shown by swelling of the lips of the vulva, which, 

 together with their lining membrane, become of a dark red or leaden 

 hue, and the mucous discharge increases and becomes whitish or pur- 

 ulent, and it may be fetid. Slight cases recover spontaneously, or 

 under warm fomentations or mild astringent injections (a teaspoouful 

 of carbolic acid in a quart of water), but severe cases may go on to the 

 formation of large sores (ulcers), or considerable portions of the mucous 

 membrane may die and slough off. Baumeister records two cases of 

 diphtheritic vaginitis, the second case in a cow four weeks calved, con- 

 tracted from the first in a newly calved cow. Both proved fatal, with 

 formation of false membranes as far as the interior of the womb. In 

 all severe cases the antiseptic injections must be applied most assidu- 

 ously. The carbolic acid may be increased to one-half ounce to a quart, 

 or chlorine water, or peroxide of hydrogen solution may be injected at 

 least three times a day. Hyposulphite of soda, 1 ounce to a quart of 

 water, is an excellent application, and the same amount may be given 

 by the mouth. 



LEUCORRHCEA MUCO-PURULENT DISCHARGE FROM THE PASSAGES. 



This is due to a continued or chronic inflammation of the womb, the 

 vagina, or both. It usually results from injuries sustained in calving, 

 or from irritation by putrid matters in connection with retained after- 

 birth, or from the use of some object in the vagina (pessary) to prevent 

 eversion of the womb. Exposure to cold or other cause of disturbance 

 of the health may affect an organ so susceptible as this at the time of 

 parturition so as to cause inflammation. 



The main symptom is the glairy white discharge flowing constantly 

 or intermittently (when the cow lies down), soiling the tail and matting 

 its hairs and those of the vulva. When the lips of the vulva are drawn 

 apart the mucous membrane is seen to be red with minute elevations, 

 or pale and smooth. The health may not suffer at first, but if the dis- 

 charge continues and is putrid the health fails, the milk shrinks, and 

 flesh is lost. If the womb is involved the hand introduced into the 

 vagina may detect the mouth of the womb slightly open and the liquid 



