METFdTIS, METRO-PERITONITIS, AND PARTURIENT FEVER. 6l.'7 



as to whether metritis had really been present. In the evening the 

 animal is left in an almost hopeless condition, and next morning it is 

 standing, the eye limpid, the physiognomy bright and cheerful, and it 

 caresses the offspring which previously was unheeded or repelled. The 

 animal has not recovered, however, but it is out of danger, and with a 

 few days' care it may be on the way to convalescence. The decrease 

 in rectal temperature is always a favourable sign. 



But, as has been said, death is the most frequent termination ; and 

 this may occur in two, four, or six days from the commencement of the 

 malady — rarely later. Then all the symptoms become aggravated. The 

 tumefaction of the genital organs increases, and extends to the mamm^ 

 and hind-limbs ; the vulva is covered with ecchymosed patches and is 

 cold ; the vaginal discharge is ichorous and brown in colour, and emits 

 a most ftt'tid odour ; the temperature suddenly falls ; the surface of the 

 body is covered by a cold glutinous perspiration — especially in the Mare 

 — and the animal expires either in a state of profound coma, or in con- 

 vulsions. 



In such cases death may be due to the violence of the inflammation 

 and its extension to the peritoneum, gangrene of the uterus, or to 

 septic infection by absorption of the putrid matters in its cavity, and 

 general poisoning therefrom.^ 



More frequently than rapid recovery, the malady passes into a 

 chronic state. Then the more acute symptoms gradually diminish, 

 the appetite returns, and the animal does not exhibit much suffering. 

 But convalescence is not established — the mammaa remain flaccid, and 

 the secretion of milk is either very scanty or altogether suppressed ; 

 the sweUing disappears from the vulva, but the discharge therefrom 

 persists or is increased in quantity. This discharge is either of a white 

 glairy character — leucorrhcjua ; grayish and grumous, resembling clotted 

 milk ; or red, brown, or sanguinolent. It is always more or less mal- 

 odorous, and sometimes extremely foitid ; more particularly is this the 

 case when, as often happens with the Cow, the discharge is mixed 

 with, or derived from the retention in the uterus of the foetal envelopes, 

 or even the fa'tus itself. In some instances, the croupous exudates 

 which have been formed on the mucous membrane become broken up, 

 and are cast off with the discharges. Franck states that, in one case, 

 a large croupous or false membrane, which had covered the greater 

 part of the interior of the utei-ua, was shed in this way. 



In other instances the cervix uteri contracts, though the mucous 

 membrane is still inflamed ; consequently, the muco-purulent secretions 

 are retained for some time, and the discharge from the vulva ceases. 

 But when the organ becomes distended, it contracts, or it is pressed 

 upon when the animal lies down, or during micturition or defecation ; 



' Franck mentions that in three instances the dise-ose manifested itself on the d.iy 

 after an ea--y jiarturitii>n, and it liad become so .severe that on the Rrcon<l daj' it was 

 necessary to slauuhter the animals. On the inner surface of the vulvar labia — which 

 was of a dark-red hue — were one to three parturient ulcers, and in a few hours there had 

 occurred an enormous tumefaction of the labia, which extended to the pelvic connective 

 tissue and as low .is the b'Kks, while the dependent parts of the body were al^o involved. 

 Deep scarifications — which caused no pain — were useless, and were not followed by 

 bleeding. On examination of the bodies after death, thrombi were discovered in the 

 uterine and ovarian veins. In these cases the infection seemed to have been derived 

 from an adjoining Cow, which retained the placenta. 



Meyer refers to a ca^e of this kind, in which death ensued during the evening of the 

 day on which the disease manifested itself. He found a large blood-clot in the uterus, 

 and ecchymoses on the intestines. 



