528 Veterinary Obstetrics 



general rule, the fetal membranes come away immediately fol- 

 lowing the fetus, or essentially at the same moment. 



The placenta usually conies away, in the mare, a few minutes 

 after birth and, in the cow, at a somewhat later period. In the 

 multiparous animals, the afterbirth which has belonged to a 

 given fetus must be expelled before the succeeding fetus from 

 the same horn can be born, and consequentl5', as a rule, we ob- 

 serve the placenta of each fetus following it immediately and 

 usually still attached to it. 



The detachment of the fetal membranes or placenta in the 

 normal way has little or no tendency to induce important hem- 

 orrhage in animals. Though the hemorrhage following detach- 

 ment of the placenta in animals is quite uniformly of no conse- 

 quence, it is present in a sufficient amount that we are able to- 

 say that it occurs. However, in the larger domestic animals, it 

 generally amounts to a quantity which is scarcely capable of be- 

 ing measured and which is wholly without visible consequence to- 

 the animal. We do see hemorrhage, however, from the placenta 

 of the larger animals when the fetal membranes are injudiciously 

 and violently torn away. Following such cases we have seen 

 fatal hemorrhage. 



Frequently the fetal membranes do not come away promptly, 

 but are retained for a greater or less period and may result seri- 

 ously for the well-being of the animal. They are especially liable 

 to be retained in cases of abortion and also in all those cases where, 

 for any reason, the involution or contraction of the uterus is tardy. 



As soon as the fetus has been expelled and the umbilic cord 

 ruptured, the chorion, and other portions of the fetal membranes 

 remaining, become essentially inert tissue, without circulation 

 and without life. It is highly essential that these should come 

 away promptly and that the involution of the uterus should take 

 place quickly. When this fails to occur promptly, the fetal 

 membranes quickly become infected and undergo decomposition; 

 the uterus becomes infected and leads to metritis, placentitis, or 

 to other more or less serious infections. Two things are essential 

 to prevent these infections : the expulsion of the membranes and 

 the contraction of the uterus. Even if the membranes are 

 promptly expelled, it is essential that the uterine cavity should 

 be effaced and the walls come in contact, in order to avoid in- 

 fection in the uterine cavity. Any relaxation or debility of the 



