- Email: [email protected]
Post-Partum Hæemorrhage
Post-Partum Hcemorrhage
225
A NOTE ON THE CAUSE OF CHRONIC TYMPANITIS IN CATTLE. By HENRY TAYLOR, F.R.e.v.s., Haywards H eath.
ACUTE tympanitis is pretty common amongst cattle and its essential .condition consists in an inordinate elaboration of gas or gases (probably of the marsh-gas series chiefly) from the ingesta in the rumen. Coupled with these excessive productions of gas there must evidently be a disturbance of the mechanism for getting rid of it ; for under ordinary circumstances when the production is at the normal rate, the animal gets rid of it via the resophagus. R easoning from that, one would deduce that if the resophagus were prevented from exercising that function, the gases would accumulate and a condition of chronic distention of the rumen would result . To carry the deduction a little further, what is more likely to interfere with that function of the resophagus than the pressure upon it of an enlarged lymphatic .gland in the mediastinum of the thorax. Ip so jacto, therefore, if one meets with a case of chronic tympanitis, it should in all probability be due to an enlarged tubercular mediastinal gland; and so we were taught. Since the Tuberculosis Order came into force I have met with at least six cases in which the mediastinal glands were of enormous size, i.e. , the diameter of a cocoanut and twice as large as one, and in which the owners asserted tha t the animal had never suffered from the complaint in question. In fact , out of 28 cases slaughtered under the Tuberculosis Order, not one had suffered from chronic tympanitis. Chronic tympanitis is not so very common, but it is generally supposed to be in some way due to Tuberculosis. It may be, but from what I have seen at post-mortems , I have grave doubt as to enlarged tubercular glands being a cause. I have only had one opportunity of making a post-mortem examination on a definite case of chronic tympanitis. The subject was a yearling steer which for some weeks had been constantly" blown," and which, in spite of repeated puncturings and doses of various medicines, still remained in that condition. After death, it was found that the rumen and the left flank were a.dherent throughout their whole extent. There had evidently been a diffuse peritonitis which was not tubercular. It seems feasible in this instan ce to assume that interference with the muscular contractions of the organ due to the adhesions, was the cause of the distention. POST-PARTUM HlEMORRHAGE. By R. H U DSON, F.R.C.V.S., R etford.
IN animals, hremorrhage after parturition is usually due to lacera-
226
The Veterinary J ournal
tion of the wall of th e vagina or uterus, or an open umbilical vein. It is most common ly met with in primipara particul arly when in fat condition; also when the act of parturition has been premature, and wh en the genital passage has been over-stretched by a large fcetus or a breach presentation. It normally follows immediately after delivery, or within a few hours, but occasionally two or three weeks may elapse, when it follows th e opening of the artery after the separation of a slough. . There may be a continuous stream of blood from the vulva, or clots may be expelled at irregular intervals. All cases should be regarded as serious, for the patient may bleed to death in three to fo rty-eight hours. Various procedures have been suggested for arresting hcemorrhage in such cases, viz. :Inj ections of cold and hot water into th e vagina. Placing the hindquarters in an elevated position. ubcutaneous injections of ad renalin and ergot. Dosing with various drugs, such as 01 Tereb ., Liq., Ferri Perchlor. , etc. All may be regarded as useless, th e only safe procedure being the stoppage of the flow of blo
225
A NOTE ON THE CAUSE OF CHRONIC TYMPANITIS IN CATTLE. By HENRY TAYLOR, F.R.e.v.s., Haywards H eath.
ACUTE tympanitis is pretty common amongst cattle and its essential .condition consists in an inordinate elaboration of gas or gases (probably of the marsh-gas series chiefly) from the ingesta in the rumen. Coupled with these excessive productions of gas there must evidently be a disturbance of the mechanism for getting rid of it ; for under ordinary circumstances when the production is at the normal rate, the animal gets rid of it via the resophagus. R easoning from that, one would deduce that if the resophagus were prevented from exercising that function, the gases would accumulate and a condition of chronic distention of the rumen would result . To carry the deduction a little further, what is more likely to interfere with that function of the resophagus than the pressure upon it of an enlarged lymphatic .gland in the mediastinum of the thorax. Ip so jacto, therefore, if one meets with a case of chronic tympanitis, it should in all probability be due to an enlarged tubercular mediastinal gland; and so we were taught. Since the Tuberculosis Order came into force I have met with at least six cases in which the mediastinal glands were of enormous size, i.e. , the diameter of a cocoanut and twice as large as one, and in which the owners asserted tha t the animal had never suffered from the complaint in question. In fact , out of 28 cases slaughtered under the Tuberculosis Order, not one had suffered from chronic tympanitis. Chronic tympanitis is not so very common, but it is generally supposed to be in some way due to Tuberculosis. It may be, but from what I have seen at post-mortems , I have grave doubt as to enlarged tubercular glands being a cause. I have only had one opportunity of making a post-mortem examination on a definite case of chronic tympanitis. The subject was a yearling steer which for some weeks had been constantly" blown," and which, in spite of repeated puncturings and doses of various medicines, still remained in that condition. After death, it was found that the rumen and the left flank were a.dherent throughout their whole extent. There had evidently been a diffuse peritonitis which was not tubercular. It seems feasible in this instan ce to assume that interference with the muscular contractions of the organ due to the adhesions, was the cause of the distention. POST-PARTUM HlEMORRHAGE. By R. H U DSON, F.R.C.V.S., R etford.
IN animals, hremorrhage after parturition is usually due to lacera-
226
The Veterinary J ournal
tion of the wall of th e vagina or uterus, or an open umbilical vein. It is most common ly met with in primipara particul arly when in fat condition; also when the act of parturition has been premature, and wh en the genital passage has been over-stretched by a large fcetus or a breach presentation. It normally follows immediately after delivery, or within a few hours, but occasionally two or three weeks may elapse, when it follows th e opening of the artery after the separation of a slough. . There may be a continuous stream of blood from the vulva, or clots may be expelled at irregular intervals. All cases should be regarded as serious, for the patient may bleed to death in three to fo rty-eight hours. Various procedures have been suggested for arresting hcemorrhage in such cases, viz. :Inj ections of cold and hot water into th e vagina. Placing the hindquarters in an elevated position. ubcutaneous injections of ad renalin and ergot. Dosing with various drugs, such as 01 Tereb ., Liq., Ferri Perchlor. , etc. All may be regarded as useless, th e only safe procedure being the stoppage of the flow of blo