Puerperal Laminitis 585 



sirable comprehensive precautions against the entrance of 

 any form of infection from the exterior through the vulva. 

 The protrusion of the fetal membranes from the vulva in- 

 creases when the patient is recumbent, and when she rises 

 they are drawn back somewhat and may drag into the vagina 

 infections caught by the protruding membranes. Tetanus 

 infection is also possible when a prolapsed uterus comes in 

 contact with stable manure. 



F. Puerperal Laminitis. 



Puerperal laminitis is virtually constant in endometritis 

 in the mare, but I have observed only one instance in the 

 cow. The symptoms of puerperal laminitis in the cow are 

 the same as those of the laminitis of indigestion and of the 

 corresponding disease in horses. It is quite unnecessary to 

 describe the symptoms and course of the disease here, but 

 it is important to bear in mind that puerperal laminitis is 

 due to the presence of an endometritis instead of an irrita- 

 tion in the intestinal tract. 



In handling puerperal laminitis in the cow the funda- 

 mental factor is the proper alleviation of the underlying en- 

 dometritis by the means already advised for that disease. 

 In addition to these measures, the veterinarian should give 

 necessary attention to the feet, either by standing the ani- 

 mal in cold water or by applying ice bags. 



G. Puerperal Meningitis 



Puerperal meningitis has found no recognized place in 

 veterinary literature. I have observed one instance only. 

 The patient was a young cow in a herd reeking with genital 

 infections. She calved without notable incident and ap- 

 peared to be progressing favorably for about two days, 

 when she suddenly developed symptoms of severe menin- 

 gitis. The patient was exceedingly uneasy, with constant 

 muscular twitchings. The head was held erect and the gait 

 was rigid and uncertain. She was readily disturbed, as in 

 tetanus. The course was stormy and death occurred within 

 one day. Autopsy showed intense injection of the meninges 



