WOUNDS AND WOUND INFECTIONS 249 



Wound fever includes a r61e of symptoms, among the principal 

 of which are elevated body temperature, loss of appetite, and 

 deranged digestion. It is caused by the resorption of poisonous 

 substances from the wound secretion. When the materials 

 absorbed are bacteria or toxins produced by bacteria in the wound, 

 the condition is known as septic or bacterial fever. In the main, 

 treatment consists in the application of antiseptics directly to 

 the wound. 



Septicemia means the presence of bacteria and their poisonous 

 products in the circulating blood. It is commonly known as 

 "blood-poisoning." This disease may follow extensive wounds 

 that have been neglected. As a sequel to decubitis (bed-sores) 

 it complicates cases in which paralysis of the limbs renders 

 standing impossible. 



Pyemia is that wound infection disease in which pus organisms 

 are found in the circulating blood. It leads to secondary multi- 

 ple abscess formation in the internal organs and generally through- 

 out the body. 



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