122 BOVINE OBSTETRICS 



limited dry herpetic exanthema around the root of the tail, 

 anus and vulva (Brauer, Schneidemiihl). This exanthema is not 

 pathognomonic, as it may be frequently seen in a cow with a 

 retained decomposing placenta and also in stables where no 

 infectious abortion prevails or ever existed. After the dis- 

 charge from the vagina has lasted three or four days, and the 

 other symptoms, as the changed quality of the milk, swelling 

 of the vulva, have been present sometimes for several days 

 before that, follows without severe pains, the expulsion of the 

 calf. Up to this period the general state of health seems to 

 suffer but little, the animal feeds well, ruminates, faeces are a 

 little harder than usual, otherwise mostly normal. 



After parturition, which usually takes place without aid, 

 the placenta is retained. In many cases they are expelled 

 within one half to one day after birth ; when this does not occur 

 they begin to decompose at the third or fourth day. Now 

 phenomena manifest themselves suggestive of a generally dis- 

 turbed health. Temperature rises up to 40° to 41° ; appetite is 

 wanting ; rumination is irregular; horns, ears, lower extremities 

 are cold ; pulse usually normal. Exploration reveals that the 

 cervix uteri is still sufficiently open to permit the introduction 

 of two to four fingers. With patience and rotary movements 

 of the cone-shaped hand, one passes through the cervix into 

 the uterus. The envelopes are still found attached to the 

 cotyledons, the uterus is but little contracted, the uterine 

 cavity full of a stinking chocolate-colored liquid, appearing 

 upon the arm and hand when retracted as fimbriated streaks. 

 The walls of the vagina and uterus are hot. The exploration 

 is painful to the animal. Matters are not always as bad as this. 

 In most cases the placenta is expelled at the fifth or sixth day, 

 followed for a long time by a badly smelling lochial excretion, 

 which later winds up with a muco-purulent discharge. After 

 expulsion of the afterbirth, the symptoms cease and the animal 

 recovers. But conception does not take place as long as the 

 muco-purulent discharge persists. In some cases sequels 

 appear, as septic metritis, metro-peritonitis and pyaemia, 

 usually in the form of a polyarthritis pysemica. 



