8io Diseases of the Ge^iiial Organs 



arthritis so often seen in cows. When pyemic abscesses oc- 

 cur in or about the pelvis, or in the sublumbar lymph glands, 

 they are recognizable by means of rectal and vaginal 

 palpation. 



The abscesses may be opened into the rectum or the va- 

 gina, if adherent to these organs. If not adherent to these, 

 but closely adherent to the abdominal walls, they should be 

 opened by external incision. This is safely done with the 

 mare under complete anesthesia. The operator inserts one 

 hand into the rectum as a guide and penetrates the abdomi- 

 nal and abscess walls with a scalpel operated by the other 

 hand. Most of the incision may be made by an assistant 

 but, when the peritoneum is reached or closely approached, 

 the operator with his one hand in the rectum, resting upon 

 the abscess, can guide the scalpel with his other hand with 

 greater safety and accuracy than can others. The opening 

 should be free and the general rules for handling abscesses 

 applied. 



4. Cervicitis 



It has already been stated that pyometra in the mare is 

 largely caused by, or at least intimately associated with cer- 

 vicitis. On the whole, cervicitis is rare in the mare as com- 

 pared to ruminants. This is largely owing to the far sim- 

 pler anatomical plan of the cervix. It is shorter, its canal 

 broader and its mucosa much simpler. There are fewer of 

 the highly complex longitudinal and annular mucous folds 

 in which bacteria may attain a secure habitat. The most 

 marked exceptions to this rule is met in pyometra, where, 

 as shown in Fig. 231, the cervical walls are invaded and be- 

 come greatly thickened and indurated. 



In a milder way (catarrhal endocervicitis) the cervix par- 

 ticipates in the infections of endometritis and apparently 

 contributes importantly to the production of sterility. It 

 has generally, however, an effect approximately opposite to 

 that observed in the cervicitis of cows. Instead of causing 

 constriction of the cervix, it usually causes paresis of the 

 walls and dilation of the cervical canal. That is, the cervix 

 of the mare under the invasion of ordinary infections pur- 

 sues a course essentially parallel to the lesions in the uterus 



