396 SEnic BLOOD diseases. 



Putrefaction is a form of fermentation, and as the yeast plant 

 in alcoholic fermentation splits up the elements of the sugar 

 into those of alcohol by a process of digestion, so the various 

 putrefactive microbes consume the constituents of materials in 

 which they are lodged, multiply rapidly when their food is 

 abundant and suitable, alter its chemical combinations, the pro- 

 ducts of such change being excreted, with or without foetor, in the 

 form of various chemical combinations, S.H. and N.H. and other 

 organic bases, designated ptomaines, some of which are injurious 

 and some actually preservative. The writer's experience leads 

 him to conclude that when the putrefactive materials are of 

 vegetable origin, the products, subjected to sunlight and a 

 plentiful supply of air, as in ponds, are generally innocuous, so 

 far as the domesticated animals are concerned ; but when they 

 are of animal origin — cadaveric alkaloids, human ordure, 

 decomposing animal fluids or solids, blood, milk, &c. contami- 

 nating drinking water, the results are often disastrous. 



Many of my readers have repeatedly seen cattle standing in 

 ponds during the hot summer weather for hours, polluting the 

 water with their excreta, drinking freely of it, although in 

 appearance it may resemble a green coloured gruel or porridge 

 more than water. Yet they take no harm, indeed seem to 

 thrive on it. If such water be examined microscopically it will 

 be found to be swarming with bacteria of various kinds. But if 

 such water contain the products of the decomposition of animal 

 fluids or solids, even when sunlight and air are plentiful, there 

 will be a repulsive odour, and unless forced, animals will not 

 drink it ; but when compelled for want of other supplies, the 

 consequences are very prejudicial, the animals become emaci- 

 ated, unthrifty, hidebound, often have diarrhoea, with irritation 

 of the respiratory mucous membrane, causing the animal to 

 cough, and if the w^ater be not changed death may result. The 

 post mortem will reveal a general anaemic condition, with broncho- 

 pneumonia, and perhaps some degree of congestion of the 

 gastro-intestinal mucous membrane ; as a rule, however, the lung 

 lesions are in chronic cases more pronounced than those in the 

 digestive tract. In some instances, and when the source of 

 contamination is abundant, the animals may rapidly succumb 

 to gastro-enteritis, with colliquative and foetid diarrhcea, great 

 prostration of strength, high fever — 106-7° F. or more — and other 



