120 THE farmer's VETERINARIAN 



the pasture. They will have less greedy appetites, 

 will not like to gorge themselves, and hence the 

 trouble will not be brought on. 



BLOOD POISONING.— When blood poisoning 

 results from the entrance of bacteria into the cir- 

 culation, it is termed septic infection. This means 

 that the disease may be communicated to a healthy 

 animal by inoculation. Thus, an operator in making 

 a post portem examination may bring on blood 

 poisoning because of an accidental prick of the skin. 

 An animal may step on a nail or get a splinter in a 

 muscle or under the skin, and become self-in- 

 oculated, in time becoming affected with septic 

 infection. Consequently bacteria are the direct 

 inducing factors. The chemical poisons produced 

 as a result of the work of these bacteria, as those of 

 putrefaction, may induce what is known as septi- 

 caemia. On the other hand where pus is produced, 

 as in the abscesses which follow upon neglected 

 wounds in joints, a form of blood poisoning is pro- 

 duced known as pyaemia. In either case blood 

 poisoning may result, become very serious and 

 may cause the death of the victim. 



At first chills may be noticed, then a rise of tem- 

 perature, quick respiration, rapid but weak pulse, 

 and much prostration. All the time the appetite 

 is disappearing, until it becomes lost. The mucous 

 membranes of the eyes and nose take on a yellow- 

 ish, red tint often showing spots or blotches of 

 blood and the tongue becomes coated and clammy. 



Quick treatment is necessary in every case of 

 blood poisoning. As soon as noticed, the source 

 should be treated with disinfectants, thereby ar- 

 resting the supply of morbid matter. A strict em- 

 ployment of antiseptics, so as to destroy the bac- 

 teria, is the first essential. We look upon the 



