INFECTIOUS MASTITIS IN GENERAL 31 



A usual obstacle to such saprophytic invasion, however, 

 is the fact that the organisms which produce the necrosis 

 have a strong attraction for leucocytes. Thus these cells 

 are present in great numbers and rapidly pick up and 

 destroy the saprophytic bacteria. Saprophytic invasion 

 is prevented in this manner. 



If, on the other hand, the leucocytes in a secondary in- 

 fection are repelled by a very strongly virulent infectious 

 organism, a saprophytic invasion is possible and in fact 

 usual. 



GENERAL CONDITIONS 



Blood - infection. — A blood-infection can occur 

 through ulceration of a vein and through lymph-infection. 

 Since the infectious organisms exert a strong attraction 

 upon the leucocytes the blood is soon cleansed by phagocy- 

 tosis. The organisms are transported to the lung tissue 

 where secondary metastatic foci may be formed. 



Intoxication. — The stroma-infection concerned pro- 

 gresses to a chronic septic-intoxication with indistinct fever 

 symptoms as a rule. It induces a chronic progressive in- 

 appetency and emaciation which finally terminates in death. 



An unimportant but apparent ch^mge is the thickening 

 of the skin (sclerosis) with a rough hair coat. This altera- 

 tion is probably caused by the direct action of the toxin. 



If gangrene be added the intoxication is septic-putrid. 

 The fever is more pronounced and death may be induced 

 in a somewhat acute manner. 



Termination. — This type of stroma-infection develops 

 into a chronic progressive destruction of the udder, which 

 can endure for a year. Furthermore it advances to a pro- 

 gressive intoxication with emaciation which can terminate 

 in death. 



