632 PATHOLOGY OF PARTURITION. 



material. Infection less frequently takes place from the interior of 

 the uterus under normal conditions, as injury is not so likely to occur 

 there from the passage of the foetus. Exceptionally, it may take place 

 in the uterus through the cotyledons, when some of these are torn 

 during the separation of the foetal membranes. 



As has been mentioned, the parturient period is eminently favourable 

 for the absorption of septic matters ; as the mucous membrane of the 

 genital canal is exceptionally vascular, and the bloodvessels and 

 lymphatics are greatly developed. 



Auto-infection occurs generally when there is a fresh wound, and 

 when the foetus is dead, and, still retained in the uterus, has become 

 decomposed through the access of air; or from retention and putre- 

 faction of the envelopes. The ichorous putrefaction of wounds, or 

 new growths in the uterus or vagina, may also lead to septic in- 

 fection. ^ 



Embryotomy, when the foetus is decomposing, is a dangerous 

 operation if a wound chances to be inflicted during its performance. 

 It is the same with the removal of the foetal envelopes. - 



With the Mare, removal of the foetal membranes does not appear to 

 be dangerous, and their retention is not usually followed by infection, 

 for it is not until the second or third day after parturition that their 

 decomposition usually commences ; so that if small injuries have been 

 produced during birth, it is most likely that they will be suppurating 

 or granulating by that time, and thus be proof against the passage of 

 putrid matter. If, however, a fresh wound is made, or the granula- 

 tions are injured by mechanical means, then removal of the putrid 

 envelopes is full of risk. Foelen mentions that a Cow had a wound 

 on the vulva, and this was infected by putrid membranes ; on the 

 fourth day after, the animal died with all the symptoms of parturient 

 septicaemia. 



External infection does not appear to be so frequent as auto-infection 

 among animals. It takes place when septic materials are brought to 



^ Franck gives the following illustrations, which could be easily and largely sup- 

 plemented : 



1. The fcEtus of a Heifer was dead in the uterus, and much distended with gas. 

 Embryotomy had to be resorted to in order to extract it ; and this was accomplished, 

 apparently, without causing any noticeable injury to the vagina. On the third day 

 septicaemia became manifest, and the animal had to be killed. 



2. A Cow gave birth to a Calf in a normal manner ; but the hoof of the young 

 creature on its passage through the vagina made a small wound. Twenty four hours 

 afterwards a second Calf in a state of putrefaction was removed by manual force, but 

 without injuring the Cow. In two days the latter was attacked with puerperal fever, 

 and was killed. 



3. Mombrini removed a dead Calf from the uterus by embryotomy. Septic inflam- 

 mation of the uterus and peritoneum set in, and the Cow died on the seventh day. 



4. It is well known that Bitches which retain the foetus in the genital canal for 

 any length of time (eighteen hours or thereabouts), frequently perish from SeptiJccemia 

 pue7-peralis. This appears to be due to the fact that the puppy so retained quickly dies : 

 owing to the shortness of the umbilical cord, the early separation of the placenta, and 

 birth taking place in the amnion. The young creature also speedily putrefies, and the 

 large raw surface formed by the maternal placenta is a ready inlet for the direct in- 

 troduction of the septic material into the blood. Speedy death of the Bitch is the 

 consequence. 



- A Cow retained the fcetal envelopes for five days after parturition, when they were 

 removed. The operator had evidently wounded a cotyledon or the uterine mucous 

 membrane in doing so, as his hand was stained with blood. In three days the animal 

 was affected with parturient fever and died. No injury to the uterus could be detected 

 on post-mortem examination. 



