532 OENERAL DISEASES. 



Blood -Poisoning (ySepticcBmia and Fycemia). 



By the popular term " blood-poisoning" is meant a state of con- 

 stitutional disturbance brought on by the introduction, usually from 

 a wound, of putrid products into the blood. 



There are three kinds of blood-poisoning: (1) Septic poisoning, in which 

 the absorbed deleterious matter is a chemical poison that, other things being 

 equal, affects the system in proportion to its amount. (2) Septic infection in 

 which the poison is formed by a ferment manufactured by bacteria that can 

 increase and multiply in the blood. Cases of blood-poisoning from wounds 

 inflicted during post-mortem examinations come under this heading. (3) 

 Pyaemia. Here, the absorbed material consists of pus-forming bacteria (and, 

 probably, poisonous matter formed by their ferments) which, having gained 

 entrance into the blood-stream, distribute themselves throughout the system, 

 and, in some cases, on becoming finally arrested in the small blood-vessels, set 

 up abscesses in various parts of the body. Although pyaemia generally occurs 

 from the absorption of ordinary pus germs (of which there are several kinds) 

 existing in a wound or abscess ; a similar process may take j)lace when pus 

 is formed by specific disease germs, as in strangles, in which case we might 

 regard the abscesses as the result of a specific pyaemia. 



Septic poisoning and septic infection are clas.'ed under the general heading 

 of " septicaemia," which signifies a putrid condition of the blood ; and pyaemia, 

 a statue in which pus exists in the blood. 



It appears that generally some pressure or inoculation is required 

 for the introduction of the poison into the blood. Hence the neces- 

 sity of free drainage from a wound, and its thorough disinfection. 

 The only hopeful cases are those of septic poisoning, in which by 

 drainage and disinfection we may hope to cut short the supply of 

 poison. We may give an ounce of sulphate of quinine daily to act 

 as an antiseptic on the blood. In all three forms there is high fever, 

 and great depression and debility. In pyaemia the wound becomes 

 dry and unhealthy-looking; and the residting abscesses, which begin 

 to appear about a week after infection, have the jDeculiarity of form- 

 ing very rapidly. Pysemia may run a somewhat chronic course, 

 with, as a rule, a fatal termination from exhaustion and diseased 

 changes. 



Navel- String Infection 



( Umbilical Fycemia, Navel ill, /oi?it ill. Scrofulous ostitis, Pervious 



tirachus, or Joint felon). 



DEFINITION. — This disease is a form of blood-poisoning, 

 which, among horses, is peculiar to foals, and is characterised 

 by fever, painful swelling of certain joints, and almost always 

 by an open and suppurating condition of the navel. 



NATURE AND CAUSE.— While the unborn foal (fottui) is in 

 the womb of its mother, it is surrounded by enveloping membranes 



