548 GENITAL APPARATUS. 



tender, discharging and bleeding, and the lochial discharge is abun- 

 dant. Tlie disease rarely appears after the first week. The earliest 

 symptoms are dulness, depression, loss of appetite, and general 

 weakness. The animals apjoear exhausted, the secretion of milk is 

 diminished or altogether suspended, and all the chief functions of the 

 body are interfered with. 



The temperature varies in a peculiar and significant way. In some 

 forms, due to infection with streptococci or to mixed infection, it rises 

 to 104° or 105° Fahr. ; in others it remains stationary or falls below 

 normal. It might be thought that in these latter cases, which are 

 usually due to infection with the colon bacillus, the general condition 

 was not grave. This, however, would be a very serious error, for in 

 such cases death follows as raj^idly as in the others. 



The patients, or some of them at least, have slight colic and 

 peritonism when the infection extends to the peritoneal pockets at 

 the entrance to the pelvis. At a later stage they appear prostrate, 

 remain lying, and seem to be suffering from paralysis of the hind 

 quarters. 



None of these general symptoms are in themselves significant, and 

 to appreciate them at their true value the local signs must be taken 

 into account. 



The external genital organs are moderately swollen, the vagina is 

 infiltrated and sensitive, and is soiled by exudate of varied character. 



The neck of the uterus is sometimes prematurely contracted after 

 the first or second day, constituting a troublesome complication both 

 in examining the parts and in treatment. When, however, it is dilated 

 and the hand can be passed, it is found that the uterus itself is not 

 contracted or is only half-contracted, and that it is filled with a 

 reddish-grey liquid of putrid appearance, sometimes without smell, at 

 others ftetid or even putrid. 



The uterine mucous membrane is infiltrated, thickened, and ex- 

 tremely fragile, partially destroyed, and breaks at the slightest touch. 

 The cotyledons may become loosened by necrosis, and accumulate in 

 the depression formed by the gravid horn of the uterus ; otherwise 

 tlie}' may be detached without difficulty. 



When the neck of the uterus is prematurely contracted direct ex- 

 ploration gives no result, but rectal examination reveals a much en- 

 larged uterus, filled with liquid or distended with putrid gas. 



If, however, the after-birth has not come away, fragments of foetal 

 membranes may be removed from the deeper portions of the uterus 

 or the surface of the cotyledons. 



Death is inevitable unless treatment is early initiated. The animals 

 succumb to infection produced by germs entering the vascular appa- 



