HYDROMETRA AND PYOMETRA.
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.