158 Manual of Veterinary Microhioloyy. 



very serious disorders, such as gangrene and detach- 

 ment of the adjoining tissues; sometimes an actual 

 putrefaction estabUshes itself in the living animal on 

 the part invaded by the germs. We can not, how- 

 ever, assign any fixed rule as to the importance of the 

 local troubles ; they manifestly depend upon the na- 

 ture of the germs which occasion them. 



As to the general symptoms, they are the conse- 

 quence of the absorption of the toxic substances 

 elaborated by the micro-organisms at the wound it- 

 self. The appearance of febrile symptoms, and more 

 especially abnormal elevation of temperature, are the 

 first indications of the intoxication ; they enable the 

 practitioner, in the absence of any other evident 

 cause, to assure himself of the infection of the wound, 

 and they constitute an important indication for its 

 subsequent treatment. Along with this, poisoning 

 of the nerve centers by the bacterial ptomaines 

 shows itself by the phenomena of coma, stupor, or 

 even delirium. 



The blood corpuscles, in contact with these sub- 

 stances, undergo a more rapid destruction, and their 

 coloring matter, in excess in the plasma, communi- 

 cates to the interstitial fluids, and notably to the 

 visible mucous membranes, a dull yellow tint more or 

 less intense, which, in severe cases indicates the ex- 

 istence of a kind of hsemaphic icterus ; the produc- 

 tion of this last condition is facilitated by the circum- 

 stance that the liver, itself altered, is unable to 

 eliminate the coloring matter which the blood plasma 

 carries to it in excessive amount. 



The germs of septicaemias are not always found in 

 the blood; some of them are anaerobic and unable to 



