SEPTICOPY.EMIA 287 



acid, salol, tincture of rhul-);!!'!), iclitargan, calomel and opium, bismuth sub- 

 nitrate, adrenaline solution, all have been recommended for this condition. 

 For lessening the fever, phenacetin and quinine have been recommended. 



For the local treatment of the ulcerated mucous meml^rane, washes 

 of permanganate of potash, 1 to 200, creolin 1 to 100, peroxide of hydrogen 

 solution. 



To combat extreme weakness give camphor, caffeine, atropia. Klett 

 used a subcutaneous injection of physiological salt solution. Alcohol, 

 pure or in spirits, is not recommended. For violent foetid diarrho'a give 

 pinch of tannoform, tannothymol or xeroform. For intestinal cramps or 

 colic give salts of bromine, morphia or sulphonal. 



The treatment of the paralysis that may follow as a sequel is taken 

 up under Diseases of the Spine and its Coverings. 



SEPTIC AND PYEMIC DISEASES. 



Septicopyaemia. 



Etiology. — This disease is caused by staphylococci or streptococci, 

 frequently by the bacterium coli, and occasionally by proteus or micro- 

 organisms related to them. The microbes may collect in a wound or they 

 may accumulate in some centre in the body, later find their way into the 

 blood and give rise to the characteristic symptoms of the disease, that is, 

 high fever and great depression and these pus-forming organisms settle in 

 the capillaries and form metastatic abscesses which appear in different 

 organs of the body, and pyiemia when accompanied by the formation of 

 abscesses and suppuration. It is termed septicaemia when there is high 

 fever and general depression. It is extremely hard, however, to make a 

 sharp distinction between the two, for undoubtedly the nature and in- 

 tensity of the disease depends not only on the nature of the bacteria, but 

 also on the toxic effects of the same and the individual resistance of the 

 animal affected. 



This condition can originate from purulent, ichorous, or gangrenous 

 wounds, ulcers, circumscribed or diffuse phlegmons, complicated frac- 

 tures, decubitus, puerperal diseases, putrid abscesses of the stomach 

 and intestines, acute inflammation and sloughing of the buccal cavity and 

 pharynx, abscess of the prostate. In many cases the original cause can- 

 not be discovered. 



Clinical Symptoms. — Fever, ushered in by chills, high temperature — 

 this may fluctuate and towards the end it may be subnormal — small ac- 

 celerated pulse, great weakness of heart, livid red mucous membranes; in 

 rare instances the mucous membranes are yellowish (icteric) ; sometimes 

 hemorrhages of the mucous membrane and skin, great dulness and then 



