IXFLAMMATloX OF TIIK UMBILICAL CORD. 717 



the puerperal infection observed in certain maternity and other 

 hospitals. 



A niali^'nant and a l)eni^'nant form of omphalitis have been described 

 by various autliorities ; but the distinction, if it really exists, is of no 

 practical importance, and it is perhaps advisable, in so far as treatment 

 is concerned, to consider the disease always as mali^Miant. It would 

 appear to be fully ascertained that septic infection gives rise to far more 

 serious and destructive intlammation than that due to entrance of the 

 air, or an aerial ferment, into the wound or open vessels of the cord. 



As lias been remarked, this inflammation of the umbilical cord is 

 more frequent in Calves and Lambs than in Foals ; and the reason for 

 this is probably due to the fact that in the former tliere is a ductus 

 Arantii, which is absent in the latter. There may also occur a kind of 

 aspiration of air into the umbilical vein. However this may be, it must 

 not be forgotten, when considering the etiology of omphalitis and its 

 frequency in ditl'erent species of animals, that putrid or septic diseases 

 are much more conunon in Cows and Ewes than Mares, and that the 

 latter do not so often receive manual assistance during parturition ; so 

 that they are less liable to parturient fever and other septic disorders 

 which might involve their offspring. 



When the remains of the umbilical cord are once fairly dried and 

 shrivelled, omphalitis is very seldom, if ever, witnessed. 



Ulrich' reports that he saw an extensive outbreak of the disease in a 

 flock of Lambs, many of which died from abscess in the liver. Jle 

 attributed the outbreak to feeding the Ewes on rape-cake. Changing 

 the food to oil-cake, and administering Glauber salts to the Ewes, 

 checked the malady. Franck was inclined to think that infection may 

 have bad something to do with the outbreak. 



Treatment. 



The prophi/laxis of omphalitis, or purulent phlebitis of the umbilical 

 cord, is very important, and nmst be based on knowledge of the etiology 

 I if the malady. This has just been alluded to. Cleanliness is absolutely 

 necessary, and the young creature should be protected from every 

 possible source of septic itifection. The danger will be greatly obviated 

 if the extremity of the umbilical cord is dressed immediately after birth 

 with a concentrated solution of carbolic acid, which destroys germs, 

 keeps away flies, and renders putrid matters innocuous, while it quickly 

 shrivels up the cord itself. This preventive treatment is strongly to be 

 recommended for Lambs, and particularly when there have been abor- 

 tions among the Ewes, retention of dead Lambs or the placental mem- 

 branes, or any other likely cause of putridity on a sheep-run or pasture. 

 The same measure is applicable to the Calf and Foal under similar con- 

 ditions, but in all cases care must be observed not to apply the acid to 

 the parts surrounding the umbilicus. 



Curative treatment must be principally of an antiseptic kind. At the 

 commencement it should be chiefly local, and the applications most 

 likely to prove beneficial are lotions of carbolic acid, boric acid, salicylic 

 acid (particularly if fever runs high), salicylate of soda, permanganate 

 of potass, borate of soda, alum or other astringent. If the umbilical 

 vein is readily accessible, one of these lotions may be introduced into 

 it, either by a fine bone probe wrapped round with lint, or by a syringe. 

 ' Canstatt's Jahrcsberichf, 1860, p. 41. 



