Py(emic Infection ' 905 



with poly-arthritis. The prognosis is fairly good if only one of 

 the limbs is diseased ; but if all are involved, extreme emacia- 

 tion is probable, along with extensive decubitis gangrene. These 

 tend to greatly complicate the disease, and render the prognosis 

 very grave. Even here, however, prompt and vigorous meas- 

 ures may save the life of the animal. 



Handling. The general line of treatment is identical with 

 that of poly-arthritis. The uterus should be cleansed and disin- 

 fected. The affected tendon sheaths should be enclosed in anti- 

 septic packs, w^hich are to be kept constantly moistened. If the 

 tendon sheaths undergo suppuration, they should be freely opened 

 from end to end upon the median line, and the cavity packed 

 with gauze saturated with tincture of iodine, in order to bring 

 about at once a thorough disinfection of the parts. Over this 

 there should be placed an ample pack of surgeon's cotton or oak- 

 um, saturated with a reliable antiseptic. 



8. Puerperal Septicaemia. 



Puerperal septicaemia signifies the entrance into the general 

 system of .septic products, accompanied or not by the bacteria by 

 which these products have been formed. Technically a distinc- 

 tion is made between septicaemia — by which pathologists under- 

 stand the entrance of micro-organisms along with their products 

 into the blood, and the continued multiplication of the bacteria 

 in the body fluids — and saprgemia or toxaemia — by which is 

 understood the entrance into the blood of the bacterial poisons 

 only. 



Clinically the differentiation between .septicaemia, bacteri- 

 aemia and .sapraemia is not easily defined. Yet they present an 

 es.sential difference in prognosis. The condition accompanies to 

 a greater or less extent most forms of .septic infection of the gen- 

 ital tract during the puerperal state, but the intensity of the 

 septicaemia is not necessarily parallel to that of the local disease. 

 We meet clinically with very exten.sive septic inflammation of 

 the uterus, resulting from a retained fetus undergoing putrid de- 

 composition over a period of days, weeks or months, or from re- 

 tained placenta undergoing rapid decomposition, during which 

 the cotyledons may become necrotic and slough off, while the de- 

 gree of septicaemia or sapraemia may be very insignificant. On 

 the other hand, there may occur virulent .septicaemia in the 



