INFLAMMA TION OF THE UMBILICAL CORD. 733 



to surrounding objects, persistent recumbency, fever, and hurried pant- 

 ing respiration wlien general infection takes place, and embolism of the 

 lungs exists. As the malady progresses, great prostration is manifest ; 

 there is swelling at the umbilicus, and intense pain on manipulation of 

 that region ; the eyes are dull and injected, the mouth very hot and dry ; 

 the pulse is so small and quick as to be scarcely perceptible ; the bowels 

 may be constipated and the faeces scanty, or obstinate diarrhoea may su- 

 pervene ; the urine is greatly diminished in quantity ; the mucous mem- 

 branes often assume a yellowish tint ; soft, fluctuating swellings, contain- 

 ing a yellow gelatinous fluid, often appear on various parts of the body; 

 the creature refuses to suck; indications of colic or peritonitis are some- 

 times manifested, with enterrorhagia ; and in the majority of cases death 

 rapidly ensues. 



Not unfrequently the phlebitis is most intense in the internal abdom- 

 inal portion of the vein, and the pus, instead of freely escaping from the 

 external opening, accumulates in the canal to such a degree as to form 

 a large swelling at the umbilical ring, which might be mistaken at the 

 first glance for a hernia. When this swelling has been opened, about half 

 a pint of pus has escaped in some instances. 



When a fatal termination does not quickly follow from septikaemia, or 

 from embolism of some important organs, through detached portions of 

 the thrombus being carried into them by the circulation, we may have 

 chronic morbid conditions of a pyaemic character set up, which are char- 

 acterized by metastatic inflammation of the serous membranes in various 

 parts of the body, and particularly of the articulations. Indeed, it is now 

 recognized by the highest continental veterinarians that the destructive 

 arthritis or "^joint disease " of foals, calves, and lambs is attributable to 

 omphalo-phlebitis. Inflammation of the joints — especially those of the 

 hocks — has often been accidentally produced by the inflammation ex- 

 cited through ligaturing the umbilical cord. 



Metastasis to the iris, choroid coat of the eye, diarrhoea, tumefaction 

 of the lymphatic glands, abscesses in the muscles and other parts, and 

 other accidents, have been observed as a result of inflammation of the 

 umbilical cord. 



Pathological Anatomy. 



In animals which have died or been killed in consequence of this dis- 

 ease, the walls of the umbilical vein throughout the course of the vessel, 

 are much thickened, and the communication with the portal veili entirely 

 interrupted by a blood clot. The vessel is filled by a yellow pulpy mass, 

 foul-smelling in some cases, odorless in others ; while its ifitima is de- 

 tached, and forms part of the contents. In the abdominal cavity we 

 may find effusion, exudation, and adhesion of various viscera, with peri- 

 toneal haemorrhagic spots. The portal and other abdominal veins often 

 contain matter similar to that in the umbilical vein ; the liver is enlarged, 

 in some cases atrophied, qlay-colored, and almost bloodless. The lym- 

 phatics of the liver and mesentery are usually nodulated, swollen, and 

 infiltrated. The lungs in many instances exhibit intense haemorrhagic 

 infarction, lobular pneumonia and its consequence, and particularly pur- 

 ulent broncho-pneumonia. In special cases, to be alluded to hereafter, 

 the joints are swollen and inflamed, and their capsules contain pus. 

 When the creature lives until it becomes cachectic, fatty degeneration of 

 the muscles, with ecchymoses in various parts of the body, are nearly 

 always noticed. 



