Purulent Infection of the Navel 1013 



small abscess at the dorso-lumbar articulation, which, rupturing 

 into the spinal canal, had caused pressure upon the spinal cord. 



In another instance, in a calf, there appeared at the age of 6 

 or 8 weeks a gradually increasing paraplegia. The caretaker 

 had not observed any disease or infection of the navel, but a 

 careful inspection of the part revealed the presence of an old 

 suppuration, the evidence consisting chiefly of dried pus upon 

 the surrounding hairs, and a naked point at the navel, indicating 

 that a limited infection of the part had existed. Being unable 

 to account otherwise for the paralysis, we diagnosed spinal 

 abscess as a result of navel infection, and finally, destroying the 

 animal, we discovered upon post-mortem examination a large 

 abscess in the spinal canal, pressing upon the cord, as shown in 

 Fig- 145- 



Fig. 145. Omphalo-Phcebitis. 

 Spinal abscess, in a four-weeks-old calf. 

 A, Inspissated pus in spinal canal, pressing upon the spinal cord, SC, 

 causing paralysis of posterior parts. 



Pathology. The disease is the result of the entrance, into 

 the freshly broken navel, of pus-forming micro-organisms. So 

 far as we are aware, the disease is not limited to any one form of 

 infection. In one instance, where a foal had succumbed to the 

 disease, bacteriologic examination of deep-seated pyaemic 

 abscesses revealed the presence of a pure streptococcic infection. 

 The local infection of the navel is a mixed one, as has been 

 shown by Bollinger and others. Clinically we observe that, 



