iioo Veterinary Obstetrics 



malady in such herds. Whenever the vulvar lesions are generally 

 intense in a herd, we have observed abortion in a serious degree, 

 10-50%. When the vulvar lesions in the herd are as a rule mild, 

 abortion is rather unimportant or absent. 



Premature births are also not rare. They occur in those herds 

 where abortion is common. The calves are weak, though some 

 of them survive. Prematurely born calves apparently suffer di- 

 rectly from the infection in many cases, and repeatedly emit a 

 peculiar bleat which dairymen recognize as belonging to conta- 

 gious abortion. 



Retained placenta is common, following abortion, premature 

 birth and calving at full term. The retention is comparatively 

 severe and serious. It occurs in well kept, vigorous cows and 

 heifers, as well as those which are emaciated or weak. 



Septic metritis, septicaemia, pyaemia, and pyometra fre- 

 quently follow abortion, premature birth and full term parturi- 

 tion. These complications are severe and malignant. They offer 

 otherwise the usual symptoms, course and prognosis. 



Death of the fetus, without expulsion, but undergoing emphy- 

 sematous decomposition instead, occasionally occurs. The fetus 

 perishes ; the cervical canal dilates tardily and incompletely ; 

 emphysema occurs promptly ; the uterus becomes paretic from 

 distension or gangrene ; no visible, or only feeble, labor pains 

 occur ; and the first symptom to attract the owner's attention is 

 the protrusion from the vulva of decomposing afterbirth, or the 

 appearance of a dirty reddish or brownish, thin, fetid discharge 

 from the vulva. 



Diseases of the ovaries are among the most common and 

 serious complications and sequelse. These have been alluded to 

 in our account of the prevalence of the disease in various herds. 

 When the disease is mild in a herd, ovarian diseases may be un- 

 important or absent, but when severe, 10-50% of the animals 

 may suffer from ovarian diseases, and become thereby sterile. 



Cystic degeneration of the ovaries is the most common 

 form of resulting ovarian disease. We have already discussed 

 this disease under " Sterility" on page 161. 



Persistent, hypertrophied corpora lutea are also common 

 following this disease. These too have been discussed while deal- 

 ing with sterility. 



