STERILITY 21:i 



RETAINED PLACENTA AND JIETRITIS 



lietentiou of the placenta and metritis has been reported to occur 

 in sows that liave aborted. 



The symptoms observed in sows consist of vaginal discharge of a 

 bloody fluid, arched back, irregular appetite and unthriftiness. There 

 is frequently one to two degrees rise of temperature and there may 

 be constipation. 



A careful examination should be made, confining the animal in a 

 crate or improvised chute. By means of a speculum the general con- 

 dition of the vag'inal mucosa may be determined and frequently also 

 the mucosa of the body of the uterus. If fragments of placenta, 

 putrid discharges, or pus are present in the uterus or vagina, irriga- 

 tion with luke warm salt solution is indicated. Irrigation may be 

 accomplished by means of a fountain syringe, making certain that it 

 is clean before using. It is advisable to repeat the irrigation every 

 day or every other day until the discharge ceases. 



In treating cases of retained placenta in swine a proper diet should 

 be provided and the patient placed in clean comfortable quarters. 

 Laxatives should be given, preferably in the feed, using such agents 

 as raw linseed oil in one-half to pint doses or salts in one to four- 

 ounce doses. The injection of 20 grains of quinin bisulphate dis- 

 solved in water is of considerable value in these cases. This material 

 should be injected into the axillary space or deep into the muscle 

 tissue. Autogenous bacterins will be found of value in those cases 

 that become chronic and in which the^e is a persistent discharge. 

 Such sows should be isolated from other swine until the vaginal dis- 

 charge has ceased. 



