155 



may be made to remove the mass with tlie ecraseur or ollierwise, fol- 

 lowing this up with antiseiitic injections, as advised under tlie last 

 heading. 



DROPSY OF THE WOMB. 



This appears as a result of some disease of the walls of tlie Avomb, 

 but has been frequently observed after sexual congress, and lias, there- 

 fore, been confounded with pregnane}*. The symptoms are tlioso of 

 l^regnancy, but Avithout any movements of the foetus and without the 

 detection of any solid body in the womb when examined with the oiled 

 hand in the rectum. At the end of four or eight months there are 

 signs of parturition or of frequent straining to pass urine, and after a 

 time the liquid is discharged clear and watery, or mudd^', thick, and 

 fetid. The hand introduced into the womb can detect neither foetus 

 nor foetal membrane. If the neck of the womb closes the liquid may 

 accumulate a second time, or even a third, if no means are taken to 

 correct the tendency. The best resort is to remove any diseased prod- 

 uct that may be found attached to the walls of the womb, and to inject 

 it daily with a, warm solution of carbolic acid 2 drams, chloride of zinc 

 one-half dram, water 1 quart. A course of bitter tonics, gentian 2 

 drams, sulphate of iron 2 drams, daily, should be given, and a nutri- 

 tious, easily digested and slightly laxative diet allowed. 



DROPSY OF THE AMNIOS. 



Tliis differs from simple dropsy of the womb iu that the lluid col- 

 lects in the inner of the two water bags (that in which the foal floats) 

 and not in the otherwise void cavity of the womb. This affection 

 can occur only in the pregnant animal, while drojDS}^ of the womb 

 occurs in the unimpregnated. The blood of the pregnant mare con- 

 tains an excess of water and a smaller proportion of albumen and red 

 globules, and vdien this is still further aggravated 1)}* ])ooy feeding, 

 and other unhj-gienic conditions, there is developed the tendency to 

 liquid transudation from the vessels and dropsy. As the watery con- 

 dition of the blood increases A\ith advancing pregnancy, so dropsy of 

 the amnios is a disease of the last four or five months of gestation. 

 The abdomen is large and pendulous, and the swelling fluctuates 

 under pressure, though the solid bodj^ of the foetus can still be felt to 

 strike against the hand j)ressed into the swelling. If the hand is 

 introduced into the vagina the womb is found to be tense and round, 

 with the projecting rounded ueck effaced, while the hand in the rec- 

 tum will detect the rounded SAVollen mass of the womb so firm and 

 tense that the body of the foetus can not be felt within it, Tlie mare 

 moves weakly and unsteadily on her limbs, having difficulty in sup- 

 porting the great weight, and in bad cases there may be loss of appe- 

 tite, stocking (dropsy) of the hind limbs, difficult breathing, and 

 colicky pains. The tension may lead to abortion, or a slow, laborious 

 parturition may occur at the usual time. 



