SEPTIC METRITIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1383, 8 March 1912, Page 8

SEPTIC METRITIS.

TAEANAKI DAIRY COWS AFFECTED. Septic metritis is slated to have heea responsible for the death of several dairy tows in North ' Tnranaki this season. In conversation with / tlio Government veterinary surgeon at New Plymouth the other ' day,, the Taranaki correspondent of the "Auckland Herald" was informed thnt many farmers mistake this disease, for. milk .fever, and treat it■. accordingly, owing to tho symptoms at a certain stage being very similar. An runnuiilified "cow doctor" treated four or live cows for red-water, and the farmer, lost'the cows, for they were suffering irom-septic metritis, and the farmer had not been shown the necessity for absolute isolation of the cows and cleanliness. ( Tho Government official, who could have been .secured by tho sending of a postcard, immediately diagnosed the succeeding cases as of septic metritis, ordered an immediate and complcto disinfection of. tho cowbails and yards with Jcyes fluid •liberally u=ed, the erection of a small yard '.and bail oil clean ground for tho accommodation of tho cows as they came an, and for the affected cows to bo kept jwarm and dry. Six cows had gone down beforo the disease, worth about £50. ."With a concrete lloor, costing £20 or £W, and the use of disinfectants and ordinary care "'at calving time, tho disease might never' have been contracted, or, had it occurred, might reasonably have stopped at one cow. A word or two on the symp-. touts' of this' disease and'the methods of combating it".may be useful at this season. Mr. Broom, recently appointed Government Veterinary Surgeon at New il'lymouth, says that septic metritis is ilirought on by the entrance-of septic or [poisonous disease germs. The disease generally makes its appearance' two or three days after calving. 'Feverish symptoms are noticeable, .namely, listlessne-.i and loss of appetite. Later, the vulva Appears slightly swollen, a discharge of a brownish fluid is noticed, which creates » filthy deposit on the tail and buttocks. There i> constipation, diminution, and sometimes total cessation of the supply of milk. The cow moves stiffly, later losing power in her limbs. Should she hecomo semi-conscious and give evidence of great suffering, death is almost certain .to ensue. It is this semi-consciousness and loss of miik that farmers often confuse with milk-fever. Serious outbreaks of the disease are nearly always associated with dirty sheds and yards, where no precautions are taken as to the cleansing and disinfection of yards and bails. AVhen a cow is taken ill, or the presence of the disease is suspected, the cow must immediately be isolated, and it is imperative to wash down any part of the shod •or surroundings that the cow may have fouled. Persons attending to tho suffering cow must thoroughly disinfect themselves before handling another nowlyoalved cow, or they will transmit the disease to her. No newly-calved cow should be brought into the shed and yards for about 21 days after calving, during which time they should bo milked in ■ a temporary yard erected on clean ground. All decaying animal or vegetable matter should bo deposited whero cows do not come into contact with it. Treatment is simple enough. Tho first cssentinl is absolute cleanliness. An aperient is in all cases necessary. For this use a do.-o of Epsom salts, eight, ten, or twelve ounces, according to the confutation of the cow, and repeat next day if necessary. The womb must be freely irrigated as in contagious abortion, using •writer at blood-heat, to which has been added, say a tablospoonful of Jeycs fluid ,to a bucket of water."