246 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



within two days of the attack, 'and some merge into the chronic form, 

 terminating in Ieucorrho3a i In the worst cases there is local septic in- 

 fection and ulceration, or even gangrene of the parts, OD there is gen- 

 eral septicaemia, or the inflammation involving the veins of the womb 

 causes coagulation of the blood contained in them, and the washing out 

 of the clots to the right heart and lungs leads to blocking of the vessels 

 in the latter and complicating pneumonia. Inflammations of the womb 

 and passages after calving are always liable to these complications, 

 and consequently to a fatal issue. Franck records three instances of 

 rapidly fatal metritis in cows, all of which had been poisoned from an 

 adjacent cow with retained and putrid afterbirth. Others have had 

 similar cases. 



Treatment in the slight cases of simple inflammation does not differ 

 much from that adopted for vaginitis, only care must be taken that 

 the astringent and antiseptic injections are made to penetrate into the 

 womb. After having washed out the womb a solution of chloride of 

 lime or permanganate of potash (1 ounce to 1 quart of water), with an 

 ounce each of glycerine and laudanum to render it more soothing, will 

 often answer every purpose. It is usually desirable to open the bowels 

 with 1 pounds Glauber salts and 1 ounce ginger in 4 quarts of warm 

 water, and to apply fomentations of warm water or even mustard poul- 

 tices or turpentine to the right flank. 



In the violent attacks with high temperature and much prostration, 

 besides the salts, agents must be given to' lower the temperature and 

 counteract septic poisoning. Salicylate of soda one-half ounce, or quinia 

 2 drams, repeated every four hours, will help in both ways, or ounce 

 doses of hyposulphite of soda or dram doses of carbolic acid may be 

 given at equal intervals until six doses have been taken. Tincture of 

 aconite has often been used in 20-drop doses every six hours. If the 

 temperature rises to 106 or 107 F., it must be met by the direct appli- 

 cation of cold or iced water to the surface. The animal may be covered 

 with wet sheets, and cold water poured on these at intervals until the 

 temperature in the rectum is lowered to 102 F. In summer the cow 

 may be allowed to dry spontaneously, while in winter it should be 

 rubbed dry and blanketed. Even in the absence of high temperature 

 much good may be obtained from the soothing influence of a wet sheet 

 covering the loins and flanks and well covered at all points by a dry 

 one. This may be followed next day by a free application of mustard 

 and oil of turpentine. When the animal shows extreme prostration 

 alcohol (1 pint) or carbonate of ammonia (1 ounce) maybe given to tide 

 over the danger, but such cases usually perish. 



In this disease, even more than in difficult and protracted parturition 

 or retained placenta, the attendants must carefully guard against the 

 infection of their hands and arms from the diseased parts. The hand 

 and arm before entering the passage's should always be well smeared 

 with lard impregnated with carbolic acid. 



