METRITIS, METRO-PERITONITIS, AND PARTURIENT FEVER. 625 



CHAPTER III. 



Metritis, Metro-Peritonitis, and Parturient Fever. 



Inflammation of the uterus [Metritis) may be limited to one or more of 

 the internal layers of the organ {Kiulo-metritis), or it may extend to its 

 outer covering — the peritoneum {l[ctro-2)crito)iitis), and produce certain 

 signs ; while the introduction of septic matters into the blood, which is 

 very often a result of this inflammation, will give rise to symptoms 

 of septictcmia. The latter complication, from the febrile indications 

 which accompany it, is appropriately distinguished by the name of 

 "Parturient Fever" — a designation applied wi'ongly to another and 

 very different malady of this period — Parturient apoplexy or Puerperal 

 collapse — and which will be studied hereafter. 



It is true that we may have metritis and metro-peritonitis without 

 septicnemia — at least to any very marked degree ; but the symptoms of 

 fever which accompany the former are generally more or less apparent, 

 and it is often difficult to discover when septic infection has taken place 

 — the high temperature and greatly accelerated circulation being the 

 first notable symptoms observed, and they often appear at an early stage 

 of metritis. And septic infection may take place without metritis, when 

 putrid matter obtains admission to the circulating fluids through a 

 lesion in the uterus or vagina. 



Inflammation of the uterus and Se2)tic(cmia pucrpcralis occur in all 

 the domesticated animals. The latter would appear to be very frequent 

 in the Bitch ; but the Mare, Cow, Sheep, Goat, and Sow are liable to 

 septic infection, either as a result of metritis, or the introduction of 

 putrefying matter into the blood through an abrasion or wound. 



The inflammation, as well as the infection, varies in intensity from 

 acute and sub-acute, to chronic. 



Symptoms. 



Inflammation of the uterus and parturient septicasmia may ensue very 

 soon after delivery — rarely before the second day with the Cow, and 

 seldom beyond the eighth day. With the Mare and Bitch, according to 

 Franck, the development of these conditions may be later. Immediately 

 after parturition the animal may appear to have quite recovered from 

 the efiects of that act — yields milk, takes care of its progeny, and there 

 is nothing to indicate the existence of disturbance. The temperature in 

 the rectum is normal, except in those cases — far from rare — in which 

 birth has been diflicult, and the genital canal has been roughly treated 

 and injured; t^lien the rectal temperature may be higher. In simple 

 metritis there is tumefaction of the vulva, with boat and redness of the 

 vagina, fever, straining, difficulty in micturition, diminution or sujipres- 

 sion of the milk secretion, inappetence and dulness. With, and often 

 without, treatment this condition passes ofif in a few days. In traumatic 

 metritis the same symptoms are observable, but soon there are well- 

 marked rigors and horripilation ; if a Cow, rumination is suspended ; 

 in the Cow and Mare the pulse becomes small, hard and quick ; the 

 secretion of milk is stopped, and the udder diminishes in size and 

 is flaccid ; the temperature rises rapidly, and the respiration is hurried 

 and shallow ; the mouth is hot and pasty, and the visible mucous mem- 

 branes injected ; while the horns and ears are veiy warm. 



The animal grinds its teeth, and betrays the existence of colicky pains 



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