80 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



PY>EMIA AND SEPTIOEMIA. 



' These diseases result from the absorption and dissemi- 

 nation of substances derived usually from septic disease of 

 some wound or inflammation ' (Green). 



By septiccemia we understand a form of septic disease un- 

 accompanied by the development of secondary inflam- 

 mations. 



By jOT/cemia is meant a septic disease characterized by the 

 presence of secondary or metastatic suppuration. 



Nature, Pathology and Morbid Anatomy of SepticBemia 

 and Pyaemia. — Koch has shown that by injecting five 

 minims of blood or meat, in an early stage of putrefaction, 

 under the skin of a house-mouse, the animal at once becomes 

 restless, and its movements weak and uncertain. 



The respirations become slower and irregular, and death 

 occurs in about four to eight hours. No pathological 

 lesions are found, and the blood taken from the animal 

 and inoculated into others has no eff'ect. The disease is 

 therefore non-infective, and as it follows the absorption of 

 putrid matter into the blood, and is not accompanied by 

 secondary inflammation, it is therefore a septicaemia. 



The eff'ect of the poison is comparable with the results of 

 the injection of a poisonous alkaloid. This form of septi- 

 caemia is termed ' septic intoxication.' 



Sanderson gives the following as signs of septic intoxi- 

 cation in animals : 



' Restlessness, muscular twitching, and increasing weak- 

 ness ; profuse diarrhoea, the faeces being loose, whitish-grey, 

 and later bloody. The temperature rises at first, but often 

 falls before death. Eespiration and heart's action gradually 

 fail, and death may be preceded by cramps. 

 * The post-mortem changes found are : 



