OMPHALOPHLEBITIS 9 



The infection takes place in the umbihcus. As the cord 

 is severed in the field or stable many species of bacteria may 

 gain access to the end of the exposed, and freshly severed 

 cord. In the colt, a streptococcus seems to be the most com- 

 mon species of bacteria capable of producing the joint ab- 

 scesses. In the lamb, a variety of the colon bacillus has been 

 associated apparently as the etiological factor with the subcu- 

 taneous cellulitis. The lesions resulting from naval infection 

 illustrates in a most excellent manner the extent to which 

 certain pyogenic bacteria gaining access to the body may 

 extend by metastasis to places remote from their entrance and 

 produce diseased foci. 



In cases of navel-ill, the umbilical \ein contains a large 

 number of bacteria. The writer has found that in colts very 

 few if an\' of the bacteria (streptococci) producing the joint 

 lesions could be found in the parenchymatous organs. Occasion- 

 ally one or two of many tubes of media inoculated from the 

 liver would develop into cultures of the infecting organism. 

 In this disease, where many species of bacteria come into com- 

 petition, one is impressed with the fact that seemingly very 

 few of the ordinary bacteria are capable of gaining an entrance 

 into the circulation or, at least, are possessed of vital powers 

 sufficient to resist the destructive forces of the living animal 

 body. A brief description of a case with the bacterial findings 

 will illustrate this point. The case referred to was from Dr. 

 Williams' clinic. 



A colt, about three weeks old. It was in good condition and seemed 

 to be perfectly well excepting for the diseased joints. It was killed for 

 examination. The umbilical vein, from the umbilicus to the liver, was 

 distended with blood, pus cells and bacteria. All of the internal organs 

 appeared to be normal. In both knee joints and in one hock joint, there 

 was extensive suppuration. A bacteriological examination showed the 

 umbilical vein to contain many species of bacteria, among which may be 

 mentioned B. coli coinmiiuis, Micrococcus pyogenes aureus and a strepto- 

 coccus. One of several tubes of media inoculated from the liver devel- 

 oped the streptococcus, the others remained clear. All media inoculated 

 from the heart blood, spleen, kidney and glands remained sterile. All 

 of the media inoculated with the pus from the diseased joints gave pure 

 cultures of the streptococcus. 



