PUERPERAL INFECTION 343 



are more marked. Already when the skin is removed the 

 oedema shows the symptoms of septicaemia. The blood is fluid 

 and not coagulated. The muscles appear as if boiled. The 

 uterine mucosa sometimes shows the lesions of a septic me- 

 tritis, but in many cases nothing but a slight infiltration of the 

 submucosa, which may also be wanting, is noticed. The serosa 

 of the uterus shows hemorrhage here and there. A glutinous 

 exudate is occasionally observed between the layers of the 

 mesometriutn, the same possibly seen under the serosa of the 

 uterus. The process of involution did not run a normal course, 

 the uterus is not contracted as it should be in a normal state 

 at this time. In the uterine cavity is found a limited amount 

 of a chocolate colored fluid. 



The peritoneum shows ecchymoses here and there. In 

 some cases enteritis is met with. The liver shows parenchy- 

 matous degeneration, a symptom, at the same time less intense, 

 observed in parturient paresis. 



The spleen is soft and somewhat enlarged. The kidneys 

 show fatty degeneration. 



Petechias are found here and there upon the pleura, endo 

 and epicardium. The lungs, leaving out hypostasis, are normal. 



Occasionally cases of hemorrhagic pleuritis are observed. 



Therapeutics. — When acute puerperal septicaemia is once 

 diagnosed in a cow, treatment is of little use. 



Antiseptic irrigations of the uterus may be tried and those 

 agents used already mentioned under septic metritis. 



It is advisable in these cases to give camphor dissolved in 

 aether subcutaneously ; also oleum terebinthina per os may be 

 used, as well as alcohol. Many veterinarians give salicylate 

 of soda, others antifebrin and borax. 



Prophylaxis is of vital importance. Care should be exer- 

 cised to prevent transmission of the infection from one cow to 

 another one. For this purpose the following must be observed : 



Arms and hands must be mechanically cleansed after 

 rendering assistance during parturition or exploring for a 

 retained afterbirth. This must first be washed with soap and 

 warm water, next disinfected with a 2 per cent, creolin solution ; 



