386 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



wound and disinfect it. This is a law. For example, it is a mat- 

 ter of current observation to see firing with an infected cau- 

 tery cause fever. The removal of the dressing and the thor- 

 ough disinfection of the cauterized parts is rapidly followed 

 by a fall of the temperature. Examples of this kind are of 

 such frequent occurrence that it is unnecessary to dwell 

 upon them at length. 



In cases of acute septicaemia, when the fever is high and 

 persistent and the life of the patient is threatened, "washing 

 the blood" is considered excellent treatment. The treat- 

 ment causes expulsions of the poisons carried aloiig with the 

 blood, by rendering the secretions more active. The urine, 

 copiously excreted, is the chief vehicle. These injections are 

 made with sodium chloride solution, 7 to 1,000, injected sub- 

 cutaneously at a temperature of 38 degrees C. It should be 

 administered in large doses and frequently. A transient dis- 

 comfort soon gives way to a marked improvement of the 

 general condition. The fever abates, the animal becomes 

 brighter, the mouth cool, the skin moist and all the chief 

 functions are normally performed. At the same time, rich 

 and easily digested food should be given to strengthen the 

 patient. Even in the horse, milk is highly recommended. 

 To combat the fever, if it persists, sulphate of quinine is the 

 best remedy that could be prescribed. The administration of 

 internal antiseptics is not to be recommended, as most of 

 them give only meagre results. The effects of carbolic acid 

 are more debatable. Alcohol and coffee are excellent aids 

 in combating weakness and debility. They relieve the pa- 

 tients by stimulating them and producing diuresis. 



MALIGNANT (EDEMA-GANGRENOUS SEP- 

 TICEMIA. 



DEFINITION. — Gangrenous Septicaemia or malig- 

 nant oedema is an inoculable disease caused by a 

 specific micro-organism swarming in the tissues. The 



