Acute Endometritis in the Mare 875 



flocculent discharge of the same character as that which is ob- 

 served flowing from the vulva. The amount of the accumula- 

 tion in the uterus is extremeh' variable ; there may be but two 

 or three quarts, or there may be 4 or 5 gallons. The walls of 

 the uterus are paretic, so that they are unable to force the ac- 

 cumulated discharge out of the uterine cavity, and thus permit 

 the great accumulation. Upon palpation, the walls are found to 

 be dense, swollen and very thick, giving the examiner the im- 

 pression of a diameter of Yo, inch or more. 



Examining the non-gravid cornu carefully, the obstetrist will 

 frequently identify in it a retained piece of the chorion ; or this 

 retained membrane may have become detached from the cornu 

 and passed out into the body of the uterus, where it lies free in 

 the accumulated pus ; or it may have escaped through the vulva 

 and disappeared. 



In almost all cases of acute endometritis in the mare, there co- 

 exists parturient laminitis. The occurrence of this disease as a 

 complication is so uniform that it might well be regarded as a 

 part of the malady, but since it is usually described separately 

 we shall follow that custom and take up its consideration later. 



As the disease progresses, and becomes more intense, the pulse, 

 temperature and respiration become more markedly involved, 

 and the discharge from the uterus increases in volume and becomes 

 more fetid. As the laminitis increases, the animal becomes more 

 and more unable to move, a.ssumes either the recumbent or the 

 standing position, according to individual temperament, and per- 

 sistently maintains such position. 



The handling of acute endo-metritis in the mare consists es- 

 sentially of the removal from the uterine cavity of any placental 

 fragments and accumulated uterine discharges. Special search 

 is to be made for the fragment of retained chorion so common in 

 the non-gravid horn. 



The accumulated fluids are to be removed from the uterine 

 cavity by copious irrigations with warm water, to which a small 

 amount of antiseptics, like 0.25% carbolic acid, lysol or bacillol 

 or o. I % permaganate of potash may be added. This will not 

 disinfect the uterine contents or uterus, but may serve the pur- 

 pose of partially disinfecting the irrigating solution. Two, three 

 or more gallons of the solution may be introduced at one time, al- 

 lowed to escape, and a like quantity again injected. The process 



