402 DISEASES OB^ BLOOD-VESSELS. 



afterwards, as a consequence of rupture of the cord (Chauveau and 

 Zundel). 



Immediately after delivery another change sets in. The extra-foetal 

 portion of the cord, which remains attached to the umbilicus, dries on 

 contact with the air, the Wharton's jelly retracts, the whole undergoes 

 a kind of necrosis, assumes the appearance of a dry scab, and in eight or 

 ten days falls away, leaving in its place the umbilicus, which should be 

 half cicatrised on the fall of the cord. Thus the umbilical cord presents 

 an extra-foetal degenerated portion and a persistent portion about ^ to 

 1 inch only in length, buried in the cutaneous ring of the umbilical 

 region. 



If all the changes indicated occur normally and physiologically, the 

 little w^ound in the region of the umbilicus cicatrises in a perfectly 

 regular way. But unfortunately this is not always the case. At times 

 the cicatrix becomes contaminated by manure, urine or dust, suppurates, 

 and may then become the seat of various complications, such as um- 

 bilical phlebitis, omphalitis or ^persistence of the canal of the urachus. 



UMBILICAL PHLEBITIS OR OMPHALO-PHLEBITIS. 



History. Umbilical phlebitis, and in a more general sense all patho- 

 logical conditions of the umbilicus, in new-born animals have been the 

 object of numerous investigations by Lecoq, Benard, Loiset (1843), 

 Bollinger (1874); and more recently by Morot (1884), Uffredizzi (1884), 

 Chassaing (1886), etc. 



Omphalo-phlebitis may occur as a primary condition or may appear 

 as a complication of omphalitis and of persistence of the urachus. It 

 consists essentially in suppurating inflammation of the umbiUcal vein, 

 but is not infrequently accompanied by omphalitis, arteritis, peritonitis, 

 and cystitis. 



Causation. The disease results from infection of the (normal) clot 

 and of the wound resulting from severance of the cord. The infection 

 may only cause simple phlebitis of the umbilical vein, but if the 

 organisms are virulent the phlebitis almost inevitably degenerates into 

 suppurative phlebitis. 



Formerly omphalo-phlebitis was thought to be caused by the 

 mother licking the foal, by irregular tearing of the cord, by crushing 

 and separation of the obliterating clot, etc. The truth is that all these 

 causes favour infection of the umbilical wound, which is the primary 

 cause, suppurative phlebitis being secondary only. 



When the cord is ruptured both the veins and arteries become 

 plugged, and bleeding ceases. This plugging should end in organisation 

 of the clot and obliteration of the vessels. If, however, the wound is 



