344 BOVINE OBSTETRICS 



the finger nails must be cut short and any dirt under them 

 removed. 



Ropes used to deliver emphysematous calves or in cows 

 succumbed to septicaemia should be destroyed. Wooden 

 instruments are to be boiled, iron ones disinfected by flaming 

 them. The greatest care must be bestowed upon the disinfec- 

 tion of the hands when any animals have been examined pre- 

 viously suffering with erysipelas or phlegmon, or when a post- 

 mortem examination had been conducted. 



When a case of septic infection occurs in a stable, all other 

 pregnant animals should be removed to another stable to calve. 

 The stall occupied by the patient is to be thoroughly dis- 

 infected. 



I saw that a cow died with puerperal septicaemia due to 

 retentio secundiuarum. Fourteen days later a second cow died 

 with the same disease (after the prolapsed uterus was readily 

 returned). Although I told the owner to disinfect the stable 

 and remove the remaining pregnant cows after the death of the 

 first one, he paid no attention to my advice, and in about eight 

 days a third cow died with puerperal septicaemia. In this cow 

 birth was normal and the afterbirth was expelled in time. 

 Since no cows calved after this last case, and they were put on 

 pasture, the infection disappeared. In the following winter no 

 puerperal septicaemia showed itself in this stable, although the 

 owner did not disinfect the premises properly during the 

 summer. Air and sunlight no doubt disinfected the stable. 



(b) TY.EMIC INFECTION. 



Polyarthritis, metastatic synovitis and chrome parametritis 

 belong to this group. 



1. Polyarthritis, 



Definition. — Polyarthritis, which follows parturition, is an 

 inflammation usually of several articulations, especially the 

 tarsus and carpus, depending on infectious material from the 

 uterus. 



The disease may start from the synovial membrane or the 



