CHAPTER XIII 



BACTERIAL DISEASES AFFECTING 

 SYNOVIAL JOINTS 



Disease. Cause. 



Traumatic arthritis Staphylococci, streptococci. 



Pyaernic arthritis in foals ... Staphylococci, streptococci B. coli, 



B. pyocijaneus. 

 Septicemic arthritis in cattle Streptococci. 



Traumatic Arthritis. 



The articular elements of the animal body become the 

 seat of bacterial invasions through two distinct sources — 

 i.e., first, internally, and what might be called " auto- 

 infection," the bacteria being carried usually by the blood 

 or lymph stream; and, secondly, externally, as illustrated 

 by traumatism. 



Whatever may be the channel by which bacteria reach 

 these joint cavities, one cannot gainsay the fact that when 

 they do get there they find an admirable breeding-ground, 

 and this fact is soon demonstrated in practice by the very 

 rapid manner in which they develop, disintegrating the 

 vital structures of the joint and adjacent tissues. 



In cases of traumatic arthritis the invading bacteria usu- 

 ally belong to the staphylococci group. The practitioner 

 here is not confronted so much with the question of the life 

 and death of his patient as he is with the great desire of 

 limiting the destructive metabolic changes occurring in the 

 joint and caused by these pathogenic bacteria. When 

 destruction of the sensitive articular surface takes place, 



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