416 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



microbes that produce pya£niia are not specific; they are the 

 ordinary agents of suppuration; the streptococcus and var- 

 ious varieties of staphylococci. 



It is nevertheless necessary that they possess special vir- 

 ulence in order to cause the general symptoms. In most cases 

 in the horse the streptococcus is found alone. Arloing and 

 Chantre found a pure culture of it in a horse that died from 

 purulent infection following castration. Cadiot on two occa- 

 sions found the streptococcus alone, and once he found it as- 

 sociated with staphylococci. 



In the ox purulent infection can result from the strept- 

 ococcus, from the bacillus of pyelo-nephritis, and from divers 

 cocci and bacilli. In the hog the usual agents of pya?mia are 

 the staphylococcus, pure or associated with bacilli. 



If the preceding lesions permit of easy explanation of the 

 formation of metastatic abscesses, the suppurations of syn- 

 ovial membranes seem more difficult to solve. They are not 

 very vascular but it is probable that microbian agents ar- 

 riving" in contact with them find an excellent environment 

 for growth where they can develop in abundance. The mi- 

 crobian theory, therefore, constitutes the synthesis of the 

 preceding theories, enriched with that of Pasteur. 



SYMPTOMS. — Nowadays purulent infection, is a rare 

 clinic. The following manifestations are evident in all the 

 species. It is announced in the wounded subject by a brisk 

 aggravation of the general condition and by a brisk elevation 

 of the temperature. The patient, previously well in every 

 respect, suddenly changes its physiognomy. It is depressed, 

 anxious, pays no attention to its surroundings, disregards 

 the food given and is attacked with general trembling and 

 chills. The respirations are accelerated and plaintive, the 

 heart beats violent, the pulse small, the mucous membranes 

 injected, and the temperature may be elevated to 40 degrees 

 C. This chain of symptoms is accompanied by a notable 



