ENDOMETEITIS 333 



injuries is less, as the uterus is closely moulded on the calf, the 

 foetal waters acting as a protecting medium. A second cause is 

 infection. Nothing definite is known with regard to the low 

 organisms which cause endometritis. Its course only induces 

 many to deal with this endometritis separately, and not 

 include it in the group of " puerperal infections." 



Symptoms. — In some cows the afterbirth is expelled in 

 time, though mostly after twenty-four hours or later. This 

 retarded expulsion is the result of a slow process of involution. 

 The general health is somewhat disturbed, appetite and 

 rumination lessened ; the cow strains occasionally ; the tem- 

 perature is usually normal ; the quantity of milk has decreased. 

 On internal examination on the third or fourth day after 

 parturition, the cervix is still sufliciently opened to allow the 

 hand to pass into the uterus. 



The uterus is not contracted normally, but possesses a 

 considerable lumen; the cotyledons have become smaller. 

 Within the uterine cavity small pieces of the afterbirth are 

 usually not met with, but a brown, slimy fluid, mostly inodor- 

 ous. During the examination the cow strains, showing that she 

 is suffering pain. 



Course. — The course is usually favorable. After four to 

 five days the uterus contracts, and from that moment the 

 brownish fluid is discharged regularly. The appetite increases, 

 rumination and lacteal secretion return, and the cow recovers. 

 An examination after eight days reveals that the cervix is not 

 entirely closed, but two or three fingers may be introduced, so 

 that the lochise can be evacuated properly. 



Therapeutics. — In such animals the contraction of the 

 uterus is of primary importance. The resorbing surface thus 

 becomes smaller and the danger of an infection less. Contrac- 

 tions are induced by the subcutaneous injection of extractum 

 secalis (5 g., the same amount of glycerine and water in one 

 dose). Some veterinarians administer borax in pretty large 

 quantities. 



According to my experience, I can also recommend borax 

 in endometritis. Irrigations of the uterus in this disease are 



