26 Veterinary Medicine. 



Symptoms. Septic intoxication or septic infection may be 

 ushered in by a staring coat or slight chill, but it rarely shows a 

 violent rigor, such as inaugurates pyaemia. There is a rapid rise 

 of temperature (102° to 104°), which persists for three to seven 

 days without the marked remissions of pysemia ; weak, compressi- 

 ble pulse ; great muscular debility ; hurried, shallow breathing, 

 usually without cough ; anorexia ; emesis in vomiting animals ; 

 dusky or yellow mucosae from dissolved haemoglobin ; scanty, 

 high colored urine, rarely albuminous ; dulness, sometimes ner- 

 vous twitching, delirium, apathy, stupor or paraplegia ; and either 

 constipation or, later, diarrhoea. When such symptoms super- 

 vene on a gangrenous sore, septic abscess or fistula, reta;ined pla- 

 centa, blood clot in the uterus or elsewhere, suppurating tubercle, 

 or other morbid product, gangrenous lung or other internal organ, 

 purulent pericarditis, pleuritis or peritonitis, or any febrile affec- 

 tion which is complicated by necrosis, septicaemia is to be sus- 

 pected. "Septicaemia should always be suspected during the 

 course of any disorder the lesions of which afford an opportunity 

 for the growth and development of septic microorganisms, when 

 the symptoms of that disorder depart from the usual type and an 

 elevated temperature continues beyond the usual duration. ' ' (At- 

 kinson) . ' ' The final diagnosis of septic infection must be based 

 on the existence of an infection atrium, through which pus mi- 

 crobes have entered the tissues, and from which they have 

 reached the general circulation." (Senn). 



Prognosis is always grave. A slight infection, overcome by the 

 leucocytes or a simple septic intoxication may get well in two or 

 three days, but an acute progressive septic infection will usually 

 prove fatal in from one to seven days. 



Prevention does not differ from that recommended for pyaemia. 



Treatm,ent is virtually hopeless unless it can secure the removal 

 of the necrotic tissue or fermenting material from which the poi- 

 son is derived. When the poisoning is due to the absorption of 

 septic products only, with little or no introduction of microbes 

 (septic intoxication) the removal of their source of supply may 

 bring about a speedy and permanent improvement. The removal 

 of a putrid placenta, or liquid from the womb, followed by irriga- 

 tion with an antiseptic lotion, the evacuation of a putrid abscess, 

 empyema, or ascites, followed by a similar disinfection, or indeed 

 the extirpation of a sloughing and putrid mass of any kind may 



