274 PEINOIPLES OF VETEKINABY SUEaEBT 



the surrounding tissue. Their function is to absorb, conse- 

 quently septic products easily gain the circulation through 

 them. Wherever a wound occurs, he it ever so minute, lymph 

 vessels are also opened. The skin is endowed with superfi- 

 cially located lymph plexuses. Therefore, the smallest scratch 

 is sufficient to permit infection, especially so on account of 

 the hairy dress of animals, which swarms with bacteria of 

 more or less virulence. For this very same reason also good 

 results are obtained by antiseptic fomentations to the surface 

 of the skin, as the antiseptic agent is taken up by them— that 

 is, the superficial lymph vessels— and carried to the deeper 

 lymphatics. For this reason, also, care must be exercised in 

 applying strong antiseptic lotions over a large area of the 

 smaller animals, as toxic effects may be obtained by their 

 absorption. 



What do you understand hy specific lymphangitis 9 



A lymphangitis, the result of the action of specific germs, 

 as in farcy, by the bacillus malleus, as in the streptococcus 

 distemper of colts, as in skin tuberculosis of cattle. 



What changes take place in an inflamed lymph vessel ? 



Whenever irritants, or, as is usually the case, infectious 

 substances enter lymph vessels, coagulation of the contents 

 and stasis take place. The endothelial lining of the intima 

 inflames, and part of it is thus destroyed. The thrombus also 

 decomposes and becomes mixed with the pus from the intima, 

 and a cream-like mass fills the interior of the diseased vessel. 

 The limited powers of resistance of the walls of the lymph 

 vessels easily permit the exit or entrance of pyogenous mate- 

 rial which invades the loose connective tissue about the vessel,, 

 start a purulent inflammation here, and an abscess is the result. 



