X58 Pyo-Septicemia of Sucklings 



a similar and probably etiologically identical disease. In the acute 

 cases the clinical manifestations as well as the anatomical changes 

 wars very similar, while in 1 cow which died only after 26 days, 

 necrotic foci were found in the liver substance in addition to hemor- 

 rhages of the serous membranes. As the cause of the disease an 

 organism of the paracolon type was demonstrated which possessed 

 pathogenic properties also for pigeons, sheep and dogs. (Bureau Anim. 

 Industry, 1902, XIX, 297 [Lit.].) 



(b) Pyo-Septicemia of Sucklings. Pyo-septicaemia neonatorum 



(Pyemic and septic joint disease of sucklings, Joint evil, Navel 

 ill; Omphalophlebitis septica, Pasteur ellosis neonatorum) 



Pyo-septicemia of sucklings is an acute eontagibus, infec- 

 tious disease of newborn animals occurring in tbe first days 

 of life and not later than in tbe first four weeks. It is cbarac- 

 terized by purulent inflammation of tbe joints and general 

 pyemic manifestations. It develops as a result of umbilical 

 infection, exceptionally as a result of an intrauterine infection 

 of tbe foetus. 



History. In former times all affections of newborn animals were 

 combined under the term navel ill (joint-evil) in the course of which 

 lameness and disturbance in walking was present. Fuerstenberg (1864) 

 recognized the fatty degeneration of muscle in young animals as an 

 independent disease, and Roloff (1864) indicated that rachitis may 

 also manifest symptoms resembling those of the pyo-septicemia. Later 

 the enzootical acute gastritis and white scours of sucklings was sep- 

 arated from this group of infection, which left only the cases in which 

 the suppurating processes occurring on different parts of the body 

 are characteristic. Bollinger (1873 and 1875) proved that one part 

 of these eases, especially the so-called "navel ills" and "joint evils," 

 are a pyemia resulting from septic umbilical infection, more rarely a 

 septicemia, and that the infection of the umbilicus occurs immediately 

 or very soon after birth. This conception may well be made to agree 

 with the possibility of a uterine infection in spite of Bollinger's ex- 

 clusive view point, and recently Tatray, Pfeiffer and especially Sohnle 

 confirmed the possibility of this method of infection. 



The etiology of the disease has recently been more extensively 

 studied in calves by Gmelin, Hess, Lesage & Delmer, in colts by Casper, 

 Sohnle and Ostertag. 



Occurrence. The disease occurs principally in sucking colts 

 and sucking calves, less frequently in sucklings of otber species. 

 In some of the breeding districts it attains not infrequently an 

 enzootic character. The best opportunity for the spreading of 

 the disease is present in the studs or dairies where all of the 

 newborn animals may become affected, and as a result the 

 breeding industry is endangered to a great extent. 



Up to the year 1887 the disease caused an aninial loss of at least 15% in the 

 stud of Mezohegyes (Hungary) ; since that time disinfection has been carried out 



