SEPTICEMIA OF PREGNANCY. 177 
taken quite ill April. Death occurred suddenly the next day. Mother 
opened immediately. Five living and two dead puppies removed; the latter 
much decomposed ; the former lived two days. 
3. Due July 3, 1892. Taken ill June 30. Labor started July 1. Pains 
soon subsided. Mother in very critical condition. Six puppies quite speedily 
removed, four of which were living. The others decomposed. The following 
day the mother failed rapidly. Another dead and very putrid puppy removed. 
Death occurred that night. 
4. Due Jan. 28, 1893. Natural birth, at term, of eleven puppies, two of 
which were dead. Mother very ill for three weeks, but eventually recovered. 
If this was a case of septicemia it is assumed that recovery was due to the 
power of the mother to whelp before much septic matter had been absorbed. 
5- Due July 14, 1893. Taken ill July 5, and died in convulsions on the 
following day. Autopsy revealed nine decomposing puppies. 
6. Due Aug. 15.. On that day signs of whelping appeared after the 
mother had been ‘* moping” for two days. Efforts at natural delivery were 
feeble, and soon ceased. Six living puppies were removed, and the day follow- 
ing another — very putrid. Mother died Aug. 19. 
7. Due Sept. 15, 1893. After being very ‘‘ mopy,” and ‘off her feed” for 
two days, the mother died suddenly Sept. 10. Seven putrid puppies found at 
the autopsy. 
8. Due Sept. 24, 1893. Whelping commenced on that day, after the mother 
had been dull for a day or two. Yet she had eaten and taken exercise. One 
dead pup was born and then labor stopped. It was believed that another dead 
puppy blocked the way of several living puppies; and as a natural delivery 
appeared impossible, efforts at removal were made. They proving ineffectual, 
and the mother being nearly dead, chloroform was administered. On opening 
her ten living puppies were found and removed from behind a puppy that had 
much decomposed. 
Scarcely ever, if ever, can mothers be saved when once this malady is on 
them; and the puppies must also succumb unless they are promptly removed. 
But removal is never easy. In fact, it is always excedingly difficult and weari- 
some. And since only comparatively few veterinarians have an intimate knowl- 
edge of dogs, for the operation to be successful it must generally be performed 
by a physician. 
Where dead puppies precede the living, the chances of removing the former in 
time to save the latter are seldom good ; and in most cases the mothers must be 
sacrificed. There being no alternative, chloroform should be administered, the 
abdomen and uterus opened, and the puppies removed. 
Only a very small proportion of the little ones so released are likely to live ; 
yet if at once enveloped in hot blankets, gently rubbed to life, and speedily 
given to a foster, there are chances of their doing so. 
