DISEASES FOLLOWING PARTURITION. 245 



collected within its cavity. Examination with the oiled hand in the 

 rectum may detect the outline of the womb beneath, somewhat enlarged, 

 and fluctuating under the touch from contained fluid. In some cases 

 heat is more frequent or intense than natural, but the animal rarely 

 conceives when served, and if she does is likely to abort. 



Treatment with the injections advised for vagiuitis is successful in 

 mild or recent cases. In obstinate ones stronger solutions may be used 

 after the womb has been washed out by a stream of tepid water until 

 it comes clear. A rubber tube is inserted into the womb, a funnel 

 placed in its raised end, and the water and afterward the solution 

 poured slowly through this. If the neck of the womb is so close that 

 the liquid can not escape, a second tube may be inserted to drain it off. 

 As injections maybe used chloride of zinc, one-half dram to the quart of 

 water, or sulphate of iron 1 dram to the quart. Three drams of sul- 

 phate of iron and one-half ounce ground ginger may also be given in 

 the food daily. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE WOMB METBITIS INFLAMMATION OF WOMB 

 AND ABDOMEN METRO-PERITONITIS. 



Inflammation of the womb may be slight or violent, simple or asso- 

 ciated with putrefaction of its liquid contents and general poisoning, or 

 it may extend so that the inflammation affects the lining membrane of 

 the whole abdominal cavity. In the last two cases the malady is a very 

 grave one. The causes are largely the same as those causing inflam- 

 mation of the vagina. Greater importance must, however, be attached 

 to exposure to cold and wet, and septic infection. 



The symptoms appear two or three days after calving, when the cow 

 may be seen to shiver, or the hair stands erect, especially along the 

 spine, and the horns, ears, and limbs are cold. The temperature in the 

 rectum is elevated by one or two decrees, the pulse is small, hard, and 

 rapid (70 to 100), appetite is lost, rumination ceases, and the milk 

 shrinks in quantity or is entirely arrested, and the breathing is hurried. 

 The hind limbs may shift uneasily, the tail be twisted, the head and 

 eyes turn to the right flank, and the teeth are ground. With the flush 

 of heat to the horns and other extremities, there is redness of the eyes, 

 nose, and mouth, and usually a dark redness about the vulva. Pressure 

 on the right flank gives manifest pain, causing moaning or grunting, 

 and the hind limbs arc moved stiflly, extremely so if the general lining 

 of the abdomen is involved. In severe cases the cow lies down and can 

 not be made to rise. There is usually marked thirst, the bowels are 

 costive, and dung is passed with pain and effort. The hand inserted 

 into the vagina perceives the increased heat, and when the neck of the 

 womb is touched the cow winces with pain. Examination through the 

 rectum detects enlargement and tenderness of the womb. The discharge 

 from the vulva is at first watery, but becomes thick, yellow, and finally 

 red or brown, with u heavy or fetid odor. Some cases recover speedily 

 and may be almost well in a couple of days; a large proportion perish 



