896 Veterinary Obstetrics 



mare and cow, and include a general weakness and emaciation of- 

 the patient, combined with a grayish-red discharge from the vul- 

 va, which stains the bedding. When the uterus becomes much 

 distended, the size of the abdomen may be augmented, and the 

 enlarged, fluctuating uterus may be recognized by abdominal 

 palpation. 



The handling of the disease in these animals is to be based upon 

 the same general principles as in the preceding cases, modified 

 by differences in the size of the patient and the form of the 

 uterus. 



Owing to the smallness of the uterus, and its form, it is well- 

 nigh impossible to effectively irrigate and disinfect its cavity. A 

 catheter or other tube may be pushed along through the vagina 

 into one of the horns, but it can scarcely advance to the apex or 

 be introduced at will into the right or left cornu ; nor can the vet- 

 erinarian determine, after it has entered one of the cornua, which 

 one it occupies. The irrigation with antiseptics is consequently 

 indefinite and unsatisfactory. 



Hobday (Vet. Jour., Jan., 1907, page 30) relates that he has 

 had favorable results in rare instances by the administration of 

 the extract of hydrastic Canadensis, while a solution of the same 

 was used as an injection into the vagina. 



Hobday recommends, instead of antiseptic irrigations or inter- 

 nal medication, the operation of hysterectomy, because as a gen- 

 eral rule the more conservative measures ultimately fail to bring 

 about recovery, while hysterectomy in his experience has been 

 safe and efficient. The technic of this operation has been de- 

 scribed on page 669. 



It is essential to carry out the operation under the strictest 

 aseptic precautions, and to this end it is well that the operation 

 be performed under general anaesthesia. 



3. Uterine Abscess. 



When chronic purulent metritis is complicated with atresia of 

 the OS uteri, there ensues a condition which may be best de- 

 scribed as uterine abscess. The line of demarcation between 

 chronic metritis or pyometra, described in the preceding article, 

 and uterine abscess is not clear. In the former the evacuation 

 of the uterine contents is sometimes constant and sometimes 

 intermittent. The intermittent character may be due to a 



