PUERPERAL SEPTICAEMIA. 
343 
Etiology .—The exciting cause of the disease then, we must 
regard as the entrance and proliferation of the septic germ into 
the uterus or uterine passages and the absorption therefrom 
of the resultant toxines or ptomaines. The various conditions, 
such as heavy milkers, plethora, mature age, season, etc., can 
only be regarded as accessory or predisposing causes. 
Pathological Anatomy .—We find the blood usually dark in 
color and coagulates with difficulty. We find, unless the course 
of the disease has been extremely rapid, ulcerations and dark 
spots upon the mucous membrane of the vagina, the os uteri 
and the uterus , small extravasations of blood beneath the 
peri card iiifn , the mucous membrane of the digestive canal 
usually congested; the uterus not contracted and soft and 
flabby ; the os, if not contracted, firmly closed by a gelatinous 
exudate. The uterus usually contains decomposing organic 
matter and the mucous membrane is in some varieties of the 
disease of a dirty brown or greenish black color, covered with 
ulcerations and coated with an ichorous or foetid pus. The 
lymphatic vessels and the thrombosed veins are filled with pus. 
The viscera are usually filled with venous blood due to enfeebled 
cardiac action. If the disease is of several days’ duration the 
peritoneal coating of the uterus, the pelvis and sometimes the 
whole peritoneum show lesions of serous, purulent or putrid 
inflammation. 
Symptoms. These are unmistakable. Rumination ceases, 
there is paddling with the hind feet, secretion of milk ceases. 
There is contraction of the abdominal walls, the animal makes 
violent expulsive efforts, arches the tail, stamps, there is para¬ 
lysis of the posterior limbs and later decubitus, rapid respira¬ 
tion, elevated temperature, except in the apoplectic form, when 
the temperature is usually below normal. Pulse varies from 8o° 
to i2o° per minute ; there is a tendency for the head to rest 
upon the flank or side, due to the tonic contraction of the cervi¬ 
cal muscles. Muzzle sometimes moist and at other times dry. 
Bowels torpid or constipated, retention of urine. 
The severity of these symptoms depends upon the amount 
