144 THE COW IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 



uterus through the tubes to the ovary. This in- 

 fection may be from a piece of retained after- 

 birth or from a diseased uterus. 



Diseases of the Tubes. 



The fallopian tubes are very small tortuous 

 tubes that lead from the horns of the uterus to 

 the ovary and they conduct the germ from the 

 ovary to the uterus. Due to infection gaining 

 access from a diseased uterus or from a re- 

 tained afterbirth we often have a very badly 

 inflamed thick-walled infected canal that will 

 prevent the cow from getting with calf. This 

 condition can only be treated by a veterinarian 

 and requires a number of special instruments 

 that are expensive. 



Diseases of the Uterus. 



By far the cause of the greatest number of 

 sterile cows is a diseased uterus. This may be 

 a catarrhal inflammation or it may be in which 

 there is no discharge or it may be a severe in- 

 flammation in which there is a mucous discharge 

 mixed with pus that flows from the vagina at 

 intervals. This pus may be retained for some 

 time in a few cases. About 90 per cent of cows 

 that abort have at least an inflammation of some 

 sort of the uterus and every cow that aborts 

 should have" proper treatment by a veterinarian 

 that understands the treatment of this condition. 

 It is not necessary to treat the cow at time of 

 calving, but if the afterbirth is retained it should 



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