Loss of Cotyledons 263 



If the food supply is limited, and an extensive field is open to 

 the animal, in which some food can be procured only by more 

 or less vigorous exertion, she will promptly take this exercise in 

 order to provide the additional food, for which the system craves. 



Best of all is work. Mares moderately, or even hard, worked 

 are always among the most regular breeders. It is not rare for 

 mares, which have long been sterile, to breed after being placed 

 at steady work for a long enough time to bring them into good 

 working condition, with a general vigorous tone. 



Locally, something may be done ,to restore the genital tract 

 to its normal tone. The congestion and atony may be largely 

 alleviated by astringent douches, such as solutions of alum or 

 tannin. Should there seem to be important infection, adequate 

 disinfection should follow. Powdered tannin and iodoform may 

 be introduced into the uterine cavity in gelatin capsules, and 

 these crushed or opened so that their contents may at once escape. 



The curtain-like flaps of mucous membrane may be snipped 

 off with long scissors or removed by other convenient means. 

 In all such cases the ovaries, oviducts and cornua should be 

 carefully searched for abnormalities, and should any be found, 

 appropriate measures applied. 



8. IvOSS OF Cotyledons. 



It has been assumed by some that the loss of the cotyledons in 

 ruminants serves to cause sterility, but Chauveau and others 

 have experimentally removed all the cotyledons which could be 

 recognized, without inducing sterility. New cotyledons were 

 formed to maintain the functions of the uterus. 



Clinically, the pathologic destruction of the cotyledons does 

 not necessarily lead to sterility. In retained afterbirth, placen- 

 titis frequently follows ; the cotyledons may be surgically re- 

 moved in order to overcome the disease ; or they may become 

 necrotic and slough off and yet sterility not ensue. We have 

 removed all recognizable cotyledons in order to overcome grave 

 sepsis due to their necrosis, after which the patient bred promptly. 

 The complete necrosis and sequestration of the cotyledons in 

 retained placenta is not rare in cows. We have observed the 

 sloughing off of, so far as we could recognize, all the cotyledons, 

 the greatly enlarged structures lying in a mass in the uterine 

 cavity, still attached to the secundines. Following their re- 



