216 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



Simple superficial lacerations of the vaginal walls are not usually- 

 serious, and heal readily unless septic inflammation sets in, in which 

 case the cow is likely to perish. They may be treated with soothing 

 and antiseptic injections, such as carbolic acid, 1 dram; water, 1 

 quart. 



The more serious injuries depend on the complications. Rupture 

 of the anterior part of the canal, close to the mouth of the womb, may 

 lead to the introduction of infecting germs into the cavity of the abdo- 

 men, or protrusion of the bowel through the rent and externally, either 

 of which is likely to prove fatal. If both these conditions are escaped 

 the wound may heal spontaneously. Rupture into the bladder may 

 lead to nothing worse than a constant dribbling of urine from the 

 vulva. The cow should be fattened if she survives. Rupture into 

 the rectum will entail a constant escape of feces through the vulva, 

 and, of course, the same condition exists when the anus as well has 

 been torn open. I have successfully sewed up an opening of this 

 kind in the mare, but in the cow it is probably better to prepare for 

 the butcher. 



CLOTS OP BLOOD IN THE WALLS OF THE VAGINA. 



During calving the vagina may be bruised so as to cause escape of 

 blood beneath the mucous membrane and its coagulation into large 

 bulging clots. The vulva may appear swollen, and on separating its 

 lips the mucous membrane of the vagina is seen to be raised into 

 irregular rounded swellings of a dark-blue or black color, and which 

 pit on pressure of the finger. If the accumlation of blood is not 

 extensive it may be reabsorbed, but if abundant it may lead to irri- 

 tation and dangerous inflammation, and should be incised with a 

 lancet and the clots cleared out. The wounds may then be sponged 

 twice a day with a lotion made with 1 dram sulphate of zinc, 1 dram 

 carbolic acid, and 1 quart water. 



RETAINED AFTERBIRTH. 



The cow, of all our domestic animals, is especially subject to this 

 accident. This may be partly accounted for by the firm connections 

 established through the fifty to one hundred cotyledons (PL XIII, 

 fig. 2) in which the fetal membranes dovetail with the follicles of the 

 womb. It is also most liable to occur after abortion, in which prepa- 

 ration has not been made by fatty degeneration for the severance of 

 these close connections. In the occurrence of inflammation, causing 

 the formation of new tissue between the membranes and the womb, 

 we find the occasion of unnaturally firm adhesions which prevent the 

 spontaneous detachment of the membranes. Again, in low conditions 

 of health and an imperfect power of contraction we find a potent 

 cause of retention, the general debility showing particularly in the 

 indisposition of the womb to contract, after calving, with sufficient 



