IOI2 Veterinary Obstetrics 



articulations of the limbs, such as the tarsus, carpus, fetlock and 

 stifle, but usually do not include the coxo-femoral or scapulo- 

 humeral joints, though somewhat rarely these are involved. 

 When the hip joint becomes affected, the symptoms are not so 

 well defined, because of the depth of the abscess. The animal is 

 excessively lame in the affected hip, and there is a general swell- 

 ing of the gluteal region. The imprisoned pus finally approaches 

 the exterior at some point, causes fluctuation if the young 

 animal lives for a sufficient time, and may then rupture or be 

 opened, and the true character of the disease becomes revealed. 



The severe lameness caused by the arthritis exerts an impor- 

 tant influence upon the course of the disease, aside from the 

 septicaemia with which it is so closely associated. The lameness 

 interferes with the young animal securing proper nourishment, 

 because in many instances it is unable to rise or even to stand 

 while it sucks, and thus it suffers from starvation. In chronic 

 cases, also, the young animal suffers greatly from decubitis 

 gangrene upon various portions of the surface of the body, so 

 that from these sores alone it may soon become a very repulsive 

 and pitiable object. 



The formation of pysemic abscesses does not confine itself to 

 any organs or tissues, but may occur at almost any point 

 within the entire body. Abscesses may form within the lungs 

 and, rupturing into the bronchial tubes, cause death from an 

 acute septic pneumonia. In other instances the abscess forms in 

 the articulations of the vertebral column, and may extend in- 

 ward to press upon the spinal cord, thereby inducing a more or 

 less sudden and complete paralysis ; or the abscess may form in 

 the spinal canal and bring about similar symptoms. 



Spinal paralysis, due to pysemic abscess as a result of navel 

 infection, may cause either sudden or gradual paralysis. If the 

 abscess forms in the inter- vertebral space, and suddenly forces 

 its way into the spinal canal to cause pressure upon the cord, 

 the paralysis may be very sudden and unexpected, as we noted 

 in one instance where a foal had been apparently well and very 

 thrifty and vigorous until some 8 or lo weeks old, when it was 

 found one morning unable to rise. It could not stand when 

 helped to its feet, and presented all the appearances of a broken 

 back. Upon post-mortem examination, there was discovered a 



