ACCIDENTS FOLLOWING PARTURITION. 103 



but, when lying down, a portion of the membranes may 

 'be seen protruding from the vulvar orifice. When 

 putrefaction of the membranes has taken place, the 

 general health of the patient suffers. She feeds 

 irregularly ; the coat is harsh and dry ; there is loss 

 of condition ; the secretion of milk is decreased, or 

 may be stopped ; there is hollowness at the eyes ; the 

 pulse is small, weak, quick, and, frequent ; and the 

 •condition may terminate in pyeemia or septicaemia. 



Retention of the membranes is seldom seen, except 

 in the Cow. 



Treatment. — The placental membranes should not 

 be allowed to remain longer than from twenty-four to 

 thirty-six hours after parturition. 



There are a. number of methods adopted to remove 

 them. A common one is to fix a weight to the 

 exposed part, until it mechanically brings them away. 

 Another is to give a full dose of purgative medicine. 

 The best, and most professional method, is to remove 

 the mass by hand. Pass the hand into the uterus, and, 

 with the thumb and index finger, break down the 

 connections at the cotyledons. When these con- 

 nections, or as many of them as can be reached, 

 have been ruptured, gentle traction will often complete 



the removal. 



In any case, after the removal of the membranes, 

 the womb should be washed out with an antiseptic 

 solution. If the membranes have undergone decom- 

 position, repeated washing or douching will be 

 necessary, and the general health of the animal should 

 be attended to. 



