Pyemia and Septicemia. 25 



iation fever of Bergmann, {aseptic or resorption fever) which 

 follows on extensive wounds, even if aseptic, on the intravenous 

 injection of the blood of healthy animals or even of fine foreign 

 particles (charcoal, flour), of a normal salt solution, or of well 

 water, or of pancreatin, pepsin or trypsin. It has been attributed 

 to the introduction and metabolism of fibrine and other elements, 

 but manifestly arises also from the solution of blood globules, 

 (haemolysis). It comes on within a few hours after a severe op- 

 eration or other cause and lasts from one to three days, terminat- 

 ing in recovery, unless complicated by some intercurrent infection. 



The saprtEmic fever, of Mathews Duncan (sapros — putrid, haima 

 — blood') may also be named in this connection. It is associated with 

 one or more of the common saprophytes (Bacillus saprogenes i — 2 

 and 3 of Rosenbach, Proteus Vulgaris, Proteus Zenkeri, Proteus 

 mirabile,- etc. ) These are propagated with difficulty in the blood, 

 but grow readily in pus or necrotic tissue from which their toxic 

 products can pass into the blood. 



Again the observations of Brieger and Maas, Ruine, Vaughan, 

 Bourget and others show that the isolated toxins from putrefactive 

 fermentation of animal matters, apart from the living bacteria 

 are capable of producing the characteristic symptoms of septi- 

 caemia. 



It is now generally concluded that the septicsemic phenomena 

 can be produced by the introduction of such poisons, whether 

 they are the product of septic fermentations outside the animal 

 poisoned, or of fermentation in dead matter in the economy of 

 such animal. 



Lesions. In fermentation fever no tissue lesions are known. 

 In septicemia gross lesions are usually lacking unless the case has 

 ■faeen prolonged to allow of secondary abscesses (septico-pysemia). 

 The blood however is dark and coagulates feebly if at all. The 

 spleen is enlarged, softened, dark in color an4 gorged with blood. 

 There are petechial haemorrhages into the serosae and mucosae, 

 and the solid organs ; cloudy swelling of internal organs from 

 coagulation necrosis ; a parboiled appearance of heart, liver, 

 kidneys and voluntary muscles ; congestion of the lymph glands 

 and usually the presence of the specific microbes in the blood and 

 local lesions. The kidneys are always congested, and their epi- 

 thelia granular and swollen, and there may be exudation between 

 the glomeruli and their capsules. 



