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THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, I
Of course many cases of metritis owe their origin to the results of brucella in-
fection. When abortion due to this organism takes place, retention of the placenta
is a frequent sequela, and rapid invasion of the uterus by putrefactive, pyogenic
and coliform bacteria occurs.
In general, our experience has indicated that metritis is most commonly en-
countered in herds where brucella infection is present.
Bacteriological examination of material from cases of metritis has almost always
shown the presence of streptococci, staphylococci and/or coliform bacilli. Strepto-
cocci appear to be the most common invaders. This finding is in keeping with
those of other investigators, and streptococci are known to be present in most cases
of chronic metritis. In some cases, always chronic cases which defy treatment,
we have found B. pyogenes present.
Some authors, including Williams, pay great attention to metritis involving the
tip of the horns and the fallopian tubes. This is considered to be a blood-borne
infection, and possibly a fœtal infection, which continues in the horn until the
animal reaches breeding age. This type of infection is regarded as a cause of sterility
in heifers. I have had no experience of this type of metritis and salpingitis. From
time to time one has met with cases of sterility in heifers, but such animals usually
go to the butcher, and post-mortem examination is not possible. Sterility in heifers
which does not respond to vaginal treatment is not commonly reported, although
occasionally a number of heifers in a single herd have failed to breed. We have,
however, met in some herds retention of the placenta and metritis at the first parturi-
tion. This, as suggested by Williams, 2 may be due to a pre-existing uterine infection,
but it appears to us that it is more probable that the infection was gained at service
since in the herds referred to, there was a considerable incidence of retention of
placenta and metritis in the older cattle.
TREATMENT OF CERVICITIS AND METRITIS.
Treatment of cervicitis and metritis presents certain difficulties. Theoretically
an infection of the cervix or uterus should be treated on the same principles as any
other localized infection, videlicet, infection, removal of dead tissue, provision for
drainage, et cetera. These principles, however, are not easy, and in some cases are
impossible of application. The treatment which we have adopted is as follows :
After parturition, if there is retention of the placenta, irrigation of the uterus
with hypochlorite solution is carried out, two gallons of the solution being run in
by gravity and allowed to flow out. Rectal examination is made in order to ascer.
tain the tone of the uterine musculatrure. At this stage the uterine muscle is usually
functioning well, and normal contraction is taking place. There is, therefore, little
need to carry out any measures to remove the injected fluid. Except for removing
any of the ragged placenta, no effort is made at this stage to take the after-birth away
completely. On the following day the irrigation treatment is again adopted, but
that part of the placenta which is readily removed is taken away, being removed by