516 GENERAL DISEASES. 



Blood-Poisoning {Septicemia and Fycemia). 



By the popular term " blood-poisoning " is meant a state of con- 

 stitutional disturbance brought on by the introduction, usually 

 from a wound, of putrid products into the blood. 



There are three kinds of blood-poisoning : (1) Septic poisoning, in which 

 the absor,bed deleterious matter is a chemical poison that, other things 

 being equal, affects the system in proportion to its amount. (2) Septic 

 infection in which the poison is formed by a ferment manufactured by 

 bacteria that can increase and multiply in the blood.. Oases of blood- 

 poisoning from wounds inflicted during post-mortem examination come 

 under this heading. (3) Pysemia. Here, the absorbed material consists of 

 pus-forming bacteria (and, probably, poisonous matter formed by their 

 ferments) which, having gained entrance into the blood-stream, distribute 

 themselves throughout the system, and in somte cases, on becoming finally 

 arrested in the small blood-vessels, set up abscesses in various parts of the 

 body. Although pyaemia generally occurs from the absorption of ordinary 

 pus germs (of which there are several kinds) existing in a wound or 

 abscess, a similar process may take place when pus is formed by specific 

 disease germs, as in strangles, in which case we might regard the abscesses 

 as the result of a specific pyaemia. 



Septic poisoning and septic infection are classed under the general head- 

 ing of " septicaemia," which signifies a putrid condition of the blood, and 

 pyEemia, a state in which pus exists in the blood. 



It appears that generally some pressure or inoculation is required 

 for the introduction of the poison into the blood. Hence the 

 necessity of free drainage from a wound, and its thorough dis- 

 infection. The only hopeful cases are those of septic poisoning, 

 in which by drainage and disinfection we may hope to cut short 

 the supply of poison. Give an ounce of sulphate of quinine daily 

 to act as an antiseptic on the blood. In all thrfee forms there is 

 high fever, and great depression and debility. In pyaemia the 

 wound becomes dry and unhealthy-looking ; and the resulting 

 abscesses, which begin to appear about a week after infection, have 

 the peculiarity of forming very rapidly. Pyaemia may run a some- 

 what chronic course, with, as a rule, a fatal termination from 

 exhaustion and diseased changes. 



NaYel-String Infection 



[Umhilical Pyxmia, Navel ill, Joint ill, Scrofulmis ostitis, Pervious 

 urachus, or Joint felon). 



DEFINITION.— This disease is a form of blood-poisoning, which, 

 among horses, is peculiar to foals, and is characterised by fever, 

 painful swelling of certain joints, and almost always by an open 

 and suppurating condition of the navel. 



