328 BOVINE OBSTETEICS 



vulva, pressure is exerted upon the urethral opening, closing 

 it more or less. In such a case the cow puts herself into such 

 a position, with the back arched and the hind legs well under 

 the body, that the opening is freed, rendering urination more 

 easy. 



Vaginal discharge sets in usually after a few days. It is a 

 muco-pnrulent, chocolate colored mass, consisting principally 

 of mucus, uterine milk, remains of foetal waters and blood. 

 The less the uterine contractions the greater the accumulation 

 of this fluid in the uterine cavity. Some animals, when the 

 secundines are retained for some time, show a pustulous exan- 

 thema, especially on the udder and the inner face of the thighs. 

 This exanthema occasionally follows normal parturition and 

 abortion, disappearing generally in a few days. 



SEQUELS. 



1. The secundinse adhere to the cotyledons and may he 

 expelled in about six days, the uterus contracting after this time. 

 The cow recovers after a muco-purulent liquid has been ex- 

 pelled for quite some time. 



2. The secundinse decompose, usually after five or six 

 days ; the part hanging from the vulva having started to putrefy 

 before this time. Decomposition also spreads toward the 

 uterus. 



The presence of putrefactive bacteria in the secundines no 

 longer in contact with vital parts, leads to the production of 

 numerous toxines which may cause sapramia. 



It often happens that the cow withstands the decomposi- 

 tion of the afterbirth. Of course the general health is some- 

 what disturbed, the cow does not feed well, yields but little 

 milk, but no further phenomena are observed. After some 

 time the afterbirth mixed with pus is expelled piecemeal, so 

 that one may speak of a maceration. 



3. Puerperal infection in the form of a septic or pyfemic 

 infection. This is especially so in emphysematous foetuses 

 delivered by embryotomy ; possibly with injury to the genital 

 canal. It is usually in these cases that the afterbirth is 



