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.
UTERINE TUMORS.
These are somewhat rare in the domestic animals, yet they have been met with in the form of cysts, fibroma, fibro-myoma, sarcoma, and carcinoma. In a number of cases the nature of the tumor has not been clearly made out. Mangot saw a mare with two pediculated uterine tumors having an aggregate weight of 12 lbs. These were expelled with much straining and suffering. LaMaitre and Rodet record other cases. Stockfleth describes multiple pediculated fibroid tumors in the womb of the cow. Cysts have been especially seen in the cow and bitch, and carcinoma in the bitch.
Symptoms. These may for a length of time be overlooked, though breeding animals usually fail to conceive. Then a slimy, muco-purulent, serous, bloody or fœtid discharge may escape habitually from the vulva, smearing the tail and hips and collecting on the floor. If the os is sufficiently patent to admit the hand vaginal and uterine exploration will detect the tumor. In other cases it may be felt by rectal examination.
Treatment is essentially surgical and will consist in dilatation of the os, and the removal of the tumor by twisting, ecraseur, or curette, and with careful antiseptic precautions before and after. In malignant tumors in the uterine walls it may be expedient to remove the entire organ.
UTERINE TUBERCLE.
This has been seen especially in sterile cows, the subjects of nymphomania, and it may be associated with a muco-purulent or bloody discharge from the vulva, nodular swelling on the uterine horns, perhaps also on the broad ligaments, one or both ovaries, and the mesentery, to be recognized by rectal examination. The presence of tuberculosis in the lungs or throat, and the response to the tuberculin test will confirm the diagnosis. As a rule it is not desirable to institute treatment.