Fetal Retention from Cervicitis. Cervical Adhesions 641 



C. Fetal Retention from Cervicitis. Cervical Adhesions. 



Thrice I have observed fetal retention due to adhesive 

 inflammation in the cervices of heifers. In one, the fetus 

 had not been long dead and the cervical canal admitted the 

 hand. Traction upon the fetus ruptured the cervix. The 

 heifer recovered her general health and was sold for beef. 

 In the second case, the fetus macerated and sloughed into 

 the rumen, and the animal recovered sufficiently to be sold 

 for beef. The third was neglected until the eight-months 

 fetus had been dead seven or eight months. The cervix was 

 dilated by cutting the first annular ring and most of the 

 fetal cadaver removed. Two fetal bones were later removed 

 by laparotomy and hysterotomy. The animal recovered her 

 general health and condition. 



So far as I have seen, the partial atresia of the canal has 

 been in the first or in the first and second rings. All cases 

 have been in heifers in first pregnancy and, so far as known, 

 death of the fetus has occurred prior to any eflfort at expul- 

 sion. Apparently the infection within the cervix has ex- 

 tended into the uterus, involved the fetus and caused its 

 death. In two of the three cases no effort to expel the fetus 

 was noted by the owner. 



The cases oflfer a very bad prognosis from the standpoint 

 of reproduction, but the outlook for the restoration of the 

 general health is fair. As a rule it is desirable or necessary 

 •to dilate the cervical canal by incising the first, or first and 

 second annular rings. Then pituitary extract may be given 

 (5 to 10 mils of the Parke, Davis & Co. preparation or its 

 equivalent of other makes) in an eflfort to cause efficient 

 uterine contraction to expel the fetus. Additional aid should 

 be given according to indications. 



Once the fetus has been extracted, the cervix should be 

 given close attention and healing facilitated. The cervix is 

 too grossly infected for tracheoplasty at the time. If the 

 patient is of but ordinary value, the cervix and uterus had 

 best be kept clean and disinfected until the general condi- 

 tion has been restored, and the animal then sold for slaugh- 

 ter. If highly valuable, partial trachelectomy should be 

 performed. 



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