298 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



uneventful recovery took place, and the patient was sent home a week 

 later. Three or four days after her arrival home she was still observed to 

 be in oestrum, and even allowed the dog to line her twice — this notwith- 

 standing the fact, of which I am absolutely sure, that ligatures were 

 placed well above and below each ovary and every particle of these organs 

 removed. Of course, no pregnancy or further sequel of that kind resulted. 



It is worth while to mention here that a spayed bitch, or 

 one which has in any way been improperly tampered with, 

 is disqualified from competition (or from receiving a prize if 

 awarded) in any show held under Kennel Club rules. 



Purulent Metritis. 



In bitches and cats which have bred once and not again, 

 and occasionally in virgin animals, the internal lining mem- 

 brane of the uterine horns becomes diseased, and the horns 

 themselves (or one of them) are distended with a foetid 

 purulent fluid. 



The Symptoms shown are that the animal appears dull and 

 listless, and the appetite is capricious, whilst at intervals 

 a glairy, sticky, intermittent discharge comes from the 

 vagina. This is noticed by the male, who constantly draws 

 attention to it. As matters progress, the discharge becomes 

 more profuse and very offensive, the bitch or cat leaving 

 a stain wherever she has lain or sat down. At a still later 

 stage there is very great disinclination to move — in fact, a 

 state of stupidity ; and during the intervals between the 

 discharging periods, whilst the fluid is collecting, the abdomen 

 is distended. 



Diagnosis can be assisted by palpation of the uterus 

 through the abdominal wall. 



Treatment. — As a general rule, all treatment, beyond that 

 of the surgical removal of the entire uterus (hysterectomy), 

 or the ovaries and uterus (ovaro-hysterectomy), is futile 

 except as a palliative measure. 



Injections of warm antiseptic fluids, such as boracic acid, 



