SUPPURATION 225 



inoculation. Mercury produces suppuration in the dog, 

 but not in the rabbit ; silver nitrate (5 per cent, solution) 

 has a similar action. Ammonia fails to produce pus ; it 

 is either absorbed without damage, or if in stronger solution 

 produces necrosis of the tissues. Turpentine produces 

 large sterile abscesses in carnivora, and Brieger's cadaverine 

 is likewise stated to set up suppuration. 



Buchner was also able, by warming various bacteria 

 with 0-5 per cent, caustic potash, to obtain a solution 

 containing protein which was powerfully pyogenic, and 

 Nannotti found that sterilised pus had a similar property. 

 It thus seems certain that a number of chemical sub- 

 stances can set up suppuration. At the same time, it 

 must be clearly recognised that suppuration and sup- 

 purative complications, as they occur naturally, are to be 

 regarded as due to the activity of micro-organisms in 

 almost every instance. 



Of so-called " septic " diseases, sapraemia, septicaemia, 

 and pyaemia must be mentioned. By " sapraemia " is 

 meant the constitutional condition arising from the 

 absorption of the toxic products elaborated by micro- 

 organisms, the latter being localised and absent from 

 the general circulation. In the acute form it is not a 

 common condition, the best example being that which 

 occurs after parturition ; by simply clearing and washing 

 out the uterus the symptoms rapidly abate. In septicaemia 

 not only is there usually (though not necessarily) a local 

 site of infection, but in addition micro-organisms are 

 present in the general circulation. It is true they are not 

 abundant in the latter situation, and Cheyne 1 believes 

 that they are to a large extent arrested in the capillaries. 

 Micrococci and streptococci are the commonest forms. 

 Pyaemia is characterised by the presence of micro-organisms, 

 most frequently streptococci, in the general circulation, 



1 System of Medicine, Clifford Allbutt, ed. 2, vol. i, p. 876. 



15 



