394 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



Causes. — Neither of these diseases is brought about, strictly speak- 

 ing, by any specific organism ; hence neither can be looked upon as a 

 specific disease. The organisms most frequently found in cases of 

 septicemia are, on the whole, the same as those of pyemia, and may 

 be pus cocci, the bacillus coli, or other pus-producing organisms. 

 These organisms are often found as secondary invaders in other dis- 

 eases, such as advanced cases of tuberculosis, in which cases they are 

 responsible for the formation of pus. 



Aside from the causative organism, or, in other words, the active 

 cause, there are many secondary causes. The most important of these 

 in pyemia is a break in continuity of the protective covering, as a 

 wound, which affords an entrance into the tissues for the organisms. 

 Among the different varieties of wounds may be mentioned cuts, 

 bruises, punctures, bums, chemical or frozen wounds, and compound 

 fractures of bones. Injuries received during parturition, stoppage 

 of the milk ducts, and infection of the umbilicus in the newly born 

 are also frequent causes of pyemia. Septicemia usually follows sur- 

 gical wounds, local suppuration, enteritis, bronchitis — in fact, wher- 

 ever there is a local lesion of any kind permitting germs to enter the 

 blood. Septicemia was formerly applied to designate the condition 

 in which the organisms were localized, but in which their toxins were 

 diffused in the blood. Pyemia was made to represent that condition 

 when the organisms were localized, but in which the pus was trans- 

 ported by the blood. These terms now are applied to conditions in 

 which both the organisms and their toxins, or the pus, are present 

 in the blood. The term septicemia is indicated when intoxication 

 is the more pronounced symptom and pyemia if pus formation and 

 metastatic or secondary abscess formation are observed. 



/SyTnptoTrhS. — The symptoms of both diseases include primarily a 

 high fever (104° to 107° F.). Coupled with this there is disinclina- 

 tion to move, the animal is depressed and not cognizant of its sur- 

 roundings. The pulse is rapid, small, and feeble, respiration in- 

 creased, mucous membrane injected, swollen, and of a yellowish 

 tinge. Appetite is lost and death follows in the case of septicemia in 

 from tvro to four days. In pyemia the symptoms come on more 

 slowly and are not so intense as in septicemia, while the course of the 

 disease is longer, lasting from six days to four weeks. The mortality 

 is not so great as in septicemia, but the period of convalescence is 

 always long. 



Lesio7is. — Septicemia is characterized by the destructive changes 

 in the blood, which is chocolate colored, noncoagulable, and swarms 

 with bacteria. The lining membranes of the heart are studded with 

 red spits, often running together to form a largo hemorrliagic area. 

 The lungs, liver, and kidneys may also show these hemorrhages. 

 The spleen is enlarged and f\dl of black blood. The cadaver do- 



