Part 54

These are much more rare than cystic tumors. They seldom maintain the character of perfect solidity, for whether fibrous, sarcomatous, melanotic, cretaceous, myomatous, cancerous, epithelial, tubercular, glanderous, or actinomycotic, they are usually associated with cysts to a greater or less extent. Not only are they liable to stimulate the formation of cysts, but the special heteroplasia may become engrafted on the walls of pre-existing cysts, as well as on normal tissues.

The symptoms of the solid tumors are in the main, those of the cystic form, and treatment resolves itself into extirpation by castration. Its success will vary according to the nature of the tumor, sarcoma, melanoma and carcinoma being especially liable to recur in the same or in distant situations, and the same is true of the colonizing with infectious germs (glanders, tuberculosis, actinomycosis) which are presumably already present in other parts of the body. Castration has, however, this recommendation, it secures the removal of the entire diseased organ, and if the morbid process or infection is confined to that only, it holds out the best prospect of recovery.

INFLAMMATION OF THE FALLOPIAN TUBES. SALPINGITIS.

This condition is met with in the female mammals of all species and mainly as the result of an infection extending from diseased womb or ovary. The results are degeneration of the epithelium, exudation into the mucosa with thickening, stenosis of the tubes, the formation of cysts along the line of the canal, with pink or straw colored contents, including fibrine, leucocytes, epithelium and granular debris. As in oöphoritis there may be blood extravasations and clots and abscess. In the cow they are at times calcified and create a suspicion of tuberculosis.

The symptoms are essentially those of metritis or ovaritis, and as these are usually more prominent the attendant salpingitis is generally overlooked during life. Careful rectal examination may detect the enlarged, tender or sacculated tubes. Treatment may be laxative, diuretic, derivative, and antiseptic toward the womb. Ablation of the ovaries, tubes and even the womb is often required.

DISEASES OF THE OVIDUCT IN BIRDS.

Imperforate tube near cloaca. Polypus: snare and twist off. Egg impaction: from atony, inflammation, stricture, congenital smallness, exhaustion, large eggs, thick end first, broken egg. Symptoms: mopes alone, feathers erect, wing and tail drooping, large, solid swelling around anus and abdomen. Rupture into abdomen. Treatment: oil cloaca and oviduct, manipulate, turn, break egg and scoop out, incise and extract, antiseptic oils. Excision of ovary.

Imperforate oviduct usually occurs in the lower part of its course, the tube being connected with the cloaca by a short, fibrous cord. In the case of a very valuable bird it may be incised and the walls of the duct may be brought down and fixed to those of the cloaca.

Polypi of the oviduct may seriously impede laying, and start obstruction and impaction. The seat of the tumor having been ascertained, it may be seized and twisted off by a snare. An elastic wire is passed through a small metallic tube so that a loop protrudes large enough to pass over the polypus. When fixed around the pedicle, it is tightened, and the tissues twisted through.

=Egg Impaction in the Oviduct.= From weakness or lack of tone in the bird, by inflammation and loss of contractile power in the oviduct, by stricture of the duct as a sequel of inflammation or abrasion, by congenital narrowing, by weakening of the oviduct through constant laying, by excessive size of the egg, by double yolked eggs, by presentation of a large egg with its thick end first, or by an egg with broken shell, the oviduct may be rendered incapable of passing the egg on and out, and as others continue to press down from above an excessive and dangerous impaction ensues. The bird refuses food, mopes around with ruffled feathers and drooping head, wings and tail. The region of the anus and in front of it hangs downward and feels firm and solid, and the oiled finger introduced into the cloaca comes in contact with the impacted mass. The bird strains violently but ineffectually and rubs its anus on the ground. The swelling goes on steadily and rapidly increasing, and the bird becomes more prostrate and hopeless. Sometimes the overdistended and congested oviduct gives way and the eggs escape into the abdomen. Reul has counted as many as 24 eggs that had thus escaped into the abdominal cavity. Or without rupture of the oviduct, the soft eggs pack together into a solid, dry yolk-like mass, the watery parts having been pressed out or absorbed. In bad cases this may weigh 1½ lb. in the hen (Weber). In the way of treatment the cloaca and oviduct should be thoroughly lubricated with a bland oil, which might be injected with a syringe, so as to pass it, if possible, around the impacted egg or mass. By careful manipulation the egg may now be brought away. If the thick end is presented it is sometimes possible to turn it so that the thin end will come first. Should all fail the egg may be broken and its contents together with the other impacted matter may be dislodged with a looped wire or small spoon. The oviduct should be lubricated for some time with a bland antiseptic oil (olive oil and boric or salicylic acid). In obstinate cases the abdomen and oviduct may be laid open and both evacuated of any egg matter that may be present. After suitable antisepsis the wounds in the oviduct and abdominal walls are to be sutured. If there appears to be danger of the further early descent of eggs into the weakened oviduct the ovary may be removed.

Eversion of the Oviduct. This appears at times as a result of the intromission of the penis (ducks) being shown immediately after copulation as a pink, lax membrane one or more inches long, dragging from the anus. In other cases it appears to result from the paresis that occurs in old birds from prolonged laying, or from inflammation and impactions. It may appear abruptly or gradually, and after a few hours becomes the seat of exudation, swelling and redness, forming a pyriform mass. In some cases it is carried out around an egg which does not glide through its canal and may be felt through its walls, and through its terminal opening. A partial eversion may take place as an invagination into the cloaca, without showing externally. When an egg is impacted, or when the protruded organ is inflamed and swollen, violent straining continues, which tends to aggravate the condition, and the bird gets rapidly exhausted, resting on its breast, later upon its back, and dying in convulsions.

In slight cases following copulation, the vermicular movement of the duct, of the cloaca and anus may serve to secure speedy spontaneous reduction. In the partial cases, of eversion into the cloaca, the free local use of oil, may secure the passage of the presenting egg and the return of the oviduct. If necessary the egg may be broken and its shell thoroughly extracted. This last method is imperative when the egg enclosed in the oviduct has already passed through the anus. The oviduct should then be cleansed in tepid water, and laudanum, oiled and returned.

Inflammation of the oviduct is a common condition resulting from debility, from impaction of an egg or of egg-material, from scratching with the shell of a broken egg, and from microbian invasion. The frequent passage of large eggs is an accessory cause, and the egg becomes an important factor in the maintenance and aggravation of the inflammation. The mucosa becomes red, dry, infiltrated, thickened and friable, and the muscular coat increasingly paretic. The egg, becoming impacted, and subjected to constant pressure in the vain efforts at expulsion, hinders circulation and nutrition, and favors necrotic and ulcerative processes, and too often the fragile membranous walls yield, and the mass drops into the abdominal cavity. Short of this, the exudate at a particular point, the main seat of inflammation, contracting in undergoing organization, forms a distinct stricture, which renders the further laying of fully formed eggs difficult or impossible, and further impaction, inflammation and rupture may follow. Sometimes the irritation causes undue peristalsis in the anterior and less actively inflamed part of the tube, and the eggs are laid prematurely without albumen or without shell, yet with much effort and suffering. Or the bowels become irritable and a profuse diarrhœa sets in, hastening the exhaustion of the patient.

Treatment should be applied early. A cooling diet of vegetables or slops, the careful removal of all irritating contents from the oviduct, and its frequent injection with bland oils medicated with mild antiseptics (boric or salicylic acid, or potassium permanganate) will usually serve a good purpose.

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.

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.

IMPERFORATE HYMEN.

Cases of this kind have been described in mare and cow, preventing copulation and conception, and leading to a distension of the vagina, with a glairy fluid, which obstructed defecation, irritated the bladder and caused violent but fruitless straining, under which the mass would project from the vulva. The centre of the swelling may be penetrated with a trochar or bistuory and enlarged by incisions in several directions. Relief is prompt and lasting.