PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 385 



this cause. In constant decubitus, animals emaciate rapidly. 

 They take but little food and the bruised skin becomes dry 

 and adheres to the adjacent tissues. The hair is staring, 

 dull and brittle, abundant dirt adheres to the integument, 

 and all signs indicating a thorough impairment of the cu- 

 taneous functions follow. Gradually the eyes become sunken 

 in the orbits, the extremities swell and the patient becomes 

 marasmic. 



The fever is never high, but it is constant and prevents 

 the patient from eating and regaining its strength. It con- 

 demns them to permanent decubitus, in which state they 

 die after several weeks. 



Colin has succeeded in realizing this pathological condi- 

 tion experimentally. The fever is due to products of putre- 

 faction. When it supervenes fractures or contusions without 

 wounds it should be regarded as the result of absorption of 

 liquids and dead cells. Fever may also be produced by in- 

 jections of sterilized putrid liquids of hay, mygdalein 

 emulsion, myrosin, chymosin, stale beer, decomposed meat 

 and stagnant water, even if it has been freed from microbes 

 by filtration. Under usual conditions, however, there is no 

 doubt that the intoxication is the work of numerous niicro- 

 bian colonies, combined secretions of which are absorljed in 

 the region of the wound. 



TREATMENT. — With the preceding data as a basis, a 

 rational treatment is easily established. Prevention is par 

 excellence the best method in combating these disea!-es. 

 Prophylaxis plays an important part in the treatment. That 

 is to say, the surgeon, assistants, instruments, and surgical 

 dressings should be clean, and the asepsis of the part operated 

 upon ought to be as complete as possible. But when, in spite 

 of everything, the disease has followed, the surgeon's atten- 

 tion must be constantly fixed upon the temperature. If the 

 temperature rises it is of the utmost importance to reopen the 



