From the clinical standpoint, therefore, we recognise two varieties of salpingitis—the one suppurative, the other tuberculous.
Symptoms. The external symptoms are similar to those of metritis, because salpingitis develops as a complication of metritis after parturition, abortion, or retention of the after-birth. The only external symptom is a discharge of varying quantity from the vulva. This may be intermittent or permanent, and it is accompanied by frequent expulsive efforts in no respect characteristic.
The nature of the lesions is ascertained by rectal examination, and as lesions of the uterus, of the Fallopian tube, and sometimes of the ovary often co-exist, the examination must be carried out methodically and gently in order to distinguish between the parts touched. The normal relationships may be modified by uterine lesions, inflammatory adhesions, local peritonitis, etc.
Diagnosis. The diagnosis requires care.
Prognosis. The prognosis is grave. The lesions are too deep-seated to be directly attacked, and, moreover, salpingitis may terminate in pyo-salpynx, i.e., in encysted abscess of the Fallopian tube.
Treatment. The treatment is similar to that of metritis. The natural opening of the Fallopian tube into the uterus allows pus and morbid products to escape, and when the metritis disappears the salpingitis may diminish and recovery may take place.
Treatment therefore is quite indirect, for in veterinary surgery it is useless to attempt to repeat on large domestic animals the brilliant operations of human surgery. The relations between uterine diseases and those of the Fallopian tubes are so close that this method of treatment gives excellent results. Moussu has seen a case of chronic metritis complicated with salpingitis recover after simple uterine treatment.
TORSION OF THE UTERUS.
Although torsion of the uterus is a condition more particularly pertaining to the domain of obstetrics, a few remarks on the subject may not be altogether out of place at this point.
The accident is commonest in the cow, but it has also been described in the mare, ewe, bitch and cat, and it probably occurs, though less frequently, in the other domestic animals. In the cow it is commonest during the last month of pregnancy.