Cause: chronic metritis, tumors, microbian infection. Symptoms:
ill-health, low condition, vulvar swelling or discharge, swelling and
fluctuation of womb. Rectal exploration. Treatment: evacuate liquid,
disinfect womb and passages, creolin, iodine.
As a rule these conditions belong to obstetrics and would not come under
the scope of this volume, but when in chronic cases, with closure of the
neck of the womb, the liquids accumulate and distend the uterus, they
may deserve mention in a medical work.
The _cause_ is usually a chronic metritis, originating it may be at the
time of a now distant parturition, or associated with tumors or
microbian invasions of the womb. In the deadly cases that follow upon
parturition and abortion streptococcus is usually present, in the more
chronic forms the staphylococcus or other pus microbe.
The _symptoms_ are those of general ill-health, low condition, pallor of
the visible mucosæ, sometimes swelling of the vulva with discharge,
serous or purulent, lessened milk yield, enlargement of the abdomen with
fluctuation felt in the right flank, or still better with the hand in
the rectum. Rectal exploration will further detect the distended uterus
connected with the vagina behind and dividing in front into two horns.
_Treatment_ consists in the evacuation of the liquid through a catheter
or cannula introduced through the os, or through the vaginal wall
immediately above, followed by a systematic disinfection. By placing the
patient upon her back, gravitation of the liquid is more marked, but
when this is not convenient it may be done with the animal standing. The
flow may be favored by raising the abdomen with a sheet held by two
assistants. The womb may be thoroughly cleansed by a normal salt
solution which has been boiled, and then daily injected with a creolin
solution (1 ∶ 100). In hydrometra an iodine lotion may be used. A course
of tonics is often indicated.