180 dis^as:es of the reproductive organs 



as swelling of the parenchymatous organs, hemorrhages, and 

 ^metastatic abscesses in internal organs. 



Symptoms. — ^The symptoms of puerperal septicemia develop 

 within one to four days after parturition. The animal 

 may show abdominal pain, straining, and from the vagina 

 there will flow at first a blood-stained discharge which later 

 becomes putrid and odorous. The lips of the vulva are 

 edematous, cold, and discolored. The temperature is high, 

 reaching in the cow 107.6° F.; the pulse rapid, irregular, 

 weak; there is no appetite; rumination is suppressed and 

 usually the patient soon lapses into a state of paralysis of the 

 hind parts and unconsciousness. Decubitus develops very 

 rapidly. 



Diagnosis. — Puerperal septicemia might be confused with 

 parturient paresis. However, it may be distinguished from 

 the latter by the local swelling of the genital organs, vaginal 

 discharge, high fever, and absence of pronounced muscular 

 paralysis. Puerperal septicemia clinically very closely 

 resembles sapremia due to retained placenta. In some cases 

 a differentiation cannot be made until after the uterus has 

 been cleaned of its putrid contents and disinfected. In 

 sapremia the patient rapidly recovers once the cause is 

 removed. 



Course. — Puerperal septicemia is very often fatal, death 

 occurring within three or four days or in some instances 

 within a single day. Recovery may occur in one or two 

 weeks. In some cases the patient is left in a state of chronic 

 pyemia which leads to emaciation, intermittent fever, chronic 

 vaginal discharge, and purulent endometritis (pyometra). 

 If secondary abscesses develop in organs, such as the lungs, 

 kidneys, udder, joints, etc., the course is prolonged. , In 

 horses purpura may be a sequel. 



Prognosis. — Prognosis is generally unfavorable, 70 per cent, 

 of the patients dying in the acute attack or from resulting 

 complications. 



Treatment. — ^Treatment consists in a thorough disinfection 

 of the uterus and vagina with a solution of lysol or creolin 

 (2 per cent.) . In the mare bichlorid of mercury (1 to 1000) 

 may be employed. The general symptoms, such as fever 



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