PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 383 



becomes the seat of a toxic elaboration recalled by a previous 

 febrile state, as for example paludal fever. 



In view of the preceding considerations a brief reference 

 to the pathological anatomy, symptoms and therapy will be 

 sufificient. 



I. Traumatic fever appears after the absorption of tox- 

 ins that are secreted in the wound. Certain conditions, more 

 particularly the application of compressive dressings, which 

 thus permit of accumulations of toxins, are favoring causes 

 of the first order. The purulent product of an abscess cav- 

 ity is in excellent condition to be reabsorbed unless it is al- 

 lowed to flow out freely, in which event there will be no 

 traumatic fever. or septicaemia. The surgeon may make inter- 

 esting demonstrations of this fact every day. If, in perjorm- 

 ing castrations, the incision is small, infection is facilitated 

 and the microbian products not flowing out, accumulate in 

 the scrotum and provoke fever. If the incision is enlarged and 

 the sac drained and irrigated, the temperature returns to nor- 

 mal. More than this, horses sufifering from nail wounds fre- 

 quently exhibit intense fever with the bmeness, which 

 promply subsides after the operation of removing the infected 

 tissues. What, then, becomes of the febrile action of the 

 traumatism? 



SYMPTOMS. — On the second or third day following the 

 operation the general state of the disease is aggravated. The 

 temperature, previously normal, rises to 39.5 degrees C. to 

 40 degrees C. The heart beat and the pulse rate are accel- 

 erated and the respirations become more frequent. Some- 

 times digestive and nervous disorders ensue. If matters are 

 not remedied two issues are possible. Either the fever sub- 

 sides and does not reappear, or else it rises again the next 

 day and following days with exacerbations in the evenings. 

 The former instance is one of simple traumatic fever. The 

 temperature curve coincides with the absorption of toxins, 



