516 DISEASES OF SWINE 



BLOOD-POISONING (SEPTICEMIA, PYEMIA) 



Definition. — By blood-poisoning we understand a condition in 

 which there is the entrance into the circulating blood of disease- 

 producing germs in large numbers, with the formation of a large 

 amount of poisonous materials which cause symptoms of severe 

 toxic nature to develop. In scientific literature this condition is 

 called septicemia, which means literally poison in the blood. 

 In some cases the germs present are those which cause the produc- 

 tion of pus and formation of abscesses. In such cases there is pus 

 found in the blood-stream, and numerous abscesses develop in 

 different parts of the body. This is what is known as pyemia, or 

 pus in the blood. It differs from simple blood-poisoning, in that in 





Fig. 77. — Pus with staphylococci Fig. 78. — Streptococcus pyogenes 



(X800) (Flugge). in pus (X 1000) (Frankel and 



Pfeiffer). 



addition to germs and their poisons there is pus circulating in the 

 blood. Of the two conditions, the one that is most commonly 

 met with in the hog is pyemia. On the meat inspection floors of 

 our large packing houses this condition in hogs is a quite frequent 

 occurrence. Over 5000 hog carcasses are condemned for this cause 

 every year in government inspected plants. 



Causes. — The principal causes for blood-poisoning of every type 

 is neglect of ordinary wounds. These wounds, becoming infected, 

 serve as an avenue of entrance for the germs, which in this manner 

 reach the blood-stream. Filthy feed lots, dirty hog wallows, and 

 similar insanitary surroundings increase the chances for blood 

 infection. Another common starting-point for blood-poisoning 

 is from an infection of the womb following birth of a litter. The 



