SpeeiJiG Contagious Diseases. 129 



a putrid state of the wound. The body temperature runs 

 very high, lowering, sometimes even to the natural, especi- 

 ally in the morning, but only to rise again, and it becomes 

 abnormally low only in the last stages. The wound becomes 

 of a dark red with dirty grayish spots and black edges. 

 The breath is mawkish or fetid, the mouth dry, thirst ar- 

 dent, skin moist but without free perspirations, mucous 

 membranes dusky yellow ; expression of countenance dull, 

 listless, stupid, heartless, and there is much muscular weak- 

 ness or lethargj'. A very offensive, watery diarrhoea is a 

 marked symptom ; and vomiting may occur in pigs and car- 

 nivora. 



There is no tendency to secondary abscesses, and after 

 death there may be little change, save enlarged, engorged 

 spleen, softened liver, and an incoagulable condition of the 

 blood. The blood of pyaemia coagulates firmly. 



Though occurring separately pyaemia and septicaemia often 

 co-exist, when the symptoms of both diseases are combined. 



Treatment is not satisfactory in the general disorder, 

 though it consists in support by antiseptic tonics (quinia, 

 salicin) and alcoholic stimulants. The mineral acids (mu- 

 riatic, nitro-muriatic) are also febrifuge, and general anti-fer- 

 ments (salicylate of soda, hyposulphite of soda, etc.) may 

 be resorted to. JJ^ourishing feeding, and pure air are, above 

 all, important. 



For the wound, lotions of antiseptics — hyposulphite of 

 soda, permanganate of potash, carbolic acid, chloride of zinc, 

 chlorinated soda, boro-glycerine, etc. — may be freely used in 

 the form of lotion on sterilized cotton. 



Prevention is essentially the same as for pyaemia, which 

 see. In no case should an operation be performed on a 

 subject in a low state of health, as the system is then much 

 more open to attack, and no surgical patient should be kept 

 in an impure atmosphere. 



(For Erysipelas see Skin Diseases.) 



