DISEASES FROM SEPTIC INFECTION OF WOUNDS. 309 



1. Aseptic Wound Fever. This is produced by eatrance intotiie 

 circulation of the blood of harmless substances (water, irrigating 

 fluids, non-decomposed wound secretions, and fibrinous ferments). 

 This occurs in the majority of cases shortly after the animal receives 

 the wound, and causes very slight disorder in the general condition. 

 The rise of temperature is generally the only visible symptom in 

 the dog. There is no alteration iu the appetite, and the tempera- 

 ture is reduced within a few hours; in very rare cases it may be 

 slightly increased for two or even three days. 



2. Septic Wound Fever and Septiccemia. As soon as putrid or 

 decayed substances find their way into the system by means of a 

 wound the symptoms of fever appear rapidly. If they are mild 

 in character, it is called " septic wound fever;" if they are acute, 

 presenting symptoms which may endanger the life of the animal, 

 it is called " septicsemia. " Septic wound fever and septicaemia are 

 only separated by their degree of intensity, otherwise they are 

 similar. They are both produced by ptomaines which are devel- 

 oped in putrid wounds finding their way into the circulation. 

 There is one difference that we will point out between septic 

 poisoning and septic infection, and that is, in the first form, the 

 micro-organisms which produce putrefaction are to be found only 

 in the centre of infection and not in the blood, while in the second 

 form the centre of infection is in the blood and in the tissues. 



Septicsemia appears, as a rule, thirty-six to forty-eight hours 

 after the injury with an increase of temperature as high as 40.5°, 

 rarely above, and showing a remittent character marked by de- 

 pression, fatigue, and loss of appetite, the last being very rare. 

 If the wound is treated quickly and rendered thoroughly anti- 

 septic, the symptoms rapidly disappear. The most dangerous 

 forms of septicsemia which occur most frequently in the dog 

 appear two to four days after the injury, showing a general disturb- 

 ance of the: system, and frequently without presenting any unusual 

 symptoms in the wound itself. In many cases, however, we may 

 then distinguish symptoms of putrefaction. The animal suddenly 

 refuses food, becomes weak, somnolent, the mucous membranes 

 become livid, and death occurs in a few hours, or more rarely after 

 some days. The temperature is rarely increased to any extent. 

 More often it is normal or subnormal. We are not able, there- 

 fore, to place any dependence on the temperature as far as prog- 



