11 Jan., 1909.] Diseases of Farm Animals. 41 



DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS. 



S. S. Cameron, M .R.C.V .S., Chief Veterinary Officer. 

 DISEASES OF THE BLOOD AND CIRCULATORY ORGANS. 



{Continued from Page 754, Vol. VI.) 



Toxaemia or Blood Poisoning. 



(Sapr^mia, Septicemia, Pyemia.) 



Blood poisoning in a wide sense may perhaps be made to include 

 all the conditions in which it is altered or untowardly affected by the 

 presence in it of foreign matter or excess of matter naturally present as 

 urea in ureamia, bile in jaundice, &c. j but blood poisoning proper or 

 toxemia is limited to that diseased condition of the blood brought about 

 by the absorption into the blood of germs or their products (toxins). 



The absorption usually takes place through wounds which are septic, 

 that is, wounds in which a .state of putrefaction exists resulting from the 

 presence of pyogenic (pus-forming) germs. 



Poisoning of the blood also occurs in tetanus (lockjaw), anthrax, milk 

 fever (probably), but in these cases the toxins are the products of specific 

 germs. 



Saprsemia and Septic Intoxication is that form of blood poisoning 

 due to the introduction of the chemical products of the septic germs 

 without the germs them.selves being introduced. Unassociated with septi- 

 caemia the condition is not a common one because a comparatively large 

 amount of toxin is required to produce deleterious effects and if the excre- 

 tory organs (kidneys, liver, skin, &c.) are acting well they pass the toxin 

 out from the blood before there is sufficient accumulation of it to produce 

 a poisonous effect. Sapraemia may however occur immediatelv after 

 parturition from absorption from the congested lining of the wombs ; or 

 from wound surfaces which are extensive ; or from ulcerated wounds, 

 either internal or external, when the excretory organs are below par and 

 so by failing to discharge it allow of the accumulation of the poison in 

 the blood. 



Septicaemia or Septic Infection is the most common and dangerous 

 form of blood poLsoning. In this case there is actual absorption of 

 septib germs and multiplication of them in the blood. On account of the 

 latter feature the condition may be set up from even the smallest of 

 wounds ; especially punctured wounds in which there is imprisonment of 

 the discharges. Once the germs are absorbed they grow and increase 

 enormously in the blood and so keep up a continuous supply of their 

 poi-sonous products or toxins. 



In both sapraemia and septicaemia death occurs quicklv and is usuallv 

 preceded by delirium. The post mortem appearances are also similar 

 although somewhat indefinite. Putrefaction sets in early and rigor mortis 

 is hardly observable. The serous membranes, particularly the lining of 

 the heart and blood vessels, are often blood stained in patches from the 

 rapid disintegration or Hcemolysis of the red corpu.scles. ^Minuter haemorr- 

 hages (called ecchymoses) may be found through the tissues. These are 

 probably due to increased perme.ability of the wall of the blood vessels 



