82 VETERINARY HOMCEOPATHV. 



of tow, medicated cotton wool used dry nia^- be resorted to, in order 

 that the parts may be protected and kept warm; after the swelhng 

 and tenderness are abated the dressing should be discontinued, 

 but in order that a relapse may be avoided, it is better to continue 

 the use of a lighter flannel bandage for some days until the limbs 

 become gradually accustomed to dispense with a covering, and so 

 the risk of extreme exposure may be averted. 



BLOOD POISONING. 



PYEMIA SEPTICEMIA. 



It is not intended to deal with this condition as one that arises 

 of itself, but to point out that it is usually the concomitant of some 

 other more clearly defined disease process or is the resultant of an 

 injury; judging, however, by experience, whatever definition may 

 be attempted to describe the process, it appears to produce a febrile 

 condition of decided intensity and one that is peculiar to itself, 

 and as medicinal treatment has been found capable of counteract- 

 ing its pernicious influence on the animal system, we have deemed 

 it wise to set apart a short chapter to its consideration. The 

 change which takes place in the blood leads one to infer that a 

 something simulating decomposition takes place in that fluid; the 

 infective material, whatever it may be, and whether due to vegetable 

 organisms or not, seems to gain entrance more generally than in 

 other ways, into the system through ruptured tissues as the result 

 of injury or surgical operations; this, having obtained access into 

 the blood current, is rapidly conveyed over the body and the con- 

 sequence is vascular irritation and general disturbance of the 

 system ; this not only results in a considerable elevation of tem- 

 perature, but frequently in the establishment of an inflammatory 

 state, which ultimately gives rise to the production and develop- 

 ment of matter (pus) which endeavors to find exit in the production 

 of abscesses over various parts of the body. If the blood be ex- 

 amined it will be found much darker in color than ordinary, when 

 allowed to stand it does not form a clot, and it contains similar 

 vegetable organisms (bacteria) to those found in the matter (pus) 

 when submitted to microscopical examination; the infective 

 material can enter the system other than through wounds, but in 



