Infections of the Ovum, Embryo and Fetus 



481 



been supposed pregnant until near the time for parturition. 

 The pus was thick and fetid. The pyometra had extended 

 into the oviducts (pyosalpinx) and had irrevocably de- 

 stroyed her breeding life. 



Embryonic maceration with pyometra probably causes 

 those cases of extensive pyometra in heifers, to which allu- 

 sion has already been made, and those in cows accompanied 

 by such complete uterine paralysis that no genital discharge 



C*»r- 



"*> 



Fig. 171 — Maceration of Fetus. 

 I Cervical lips ■ 2 greatly enlarged, sclerotic annular fold pushed across the cervical can 

 J, vagina ; 4, parietal bone of embryo ; CL, embedded corpus luteum 

 of pyometra. The uterine walls are sclerotic. 



is evident. In these cases, if the pyometra is due to embry- 

 onic maceration, the embryo is so small- at the inception of 

 the pyometra that its skeletal debris is not recognizable 

 clinically during douching. 



When fetal death and maceration occur later in preg- 

 nancy, copious discharge of fetid pus commonly follows. 

 The fetal debris is too gross and angular to be discharged 

 with the pus. The soft tissues of the cadaver dissolve or 



