9 6 
W. L. ZUILL. 
able to suppose that this extreme fever is due to the rapid 
combustion of tissue, and which is represented in the blood by 
the products of tissue waste. Why this rapid disintegration of 
tissue takes place I am not able to explain, nor have I been able 
to find an explanation by any writer. It is possible that at 
some future time it may be found to be due to as yet an un is- 
covered microbe (?)• When the disease has progressed for some 
little time, the white blood corpuscles will be found in increase 
numbers, but which is relative only, due to the destructive 
changes going on among the red cells as already noticed, 
will be readily noticed that when making a post-mortem exam¬ 
ination immediately after death the blood is black and not 
coagulated; it collects in pools on the ground; by its contact 
with the air it absorbs oxygen and coagulates, thereby showing 
that it is entirely different from the blood of anthrax, or septic 
infection. 
A genuine septic infection, however, is always possible when 
there has been a gangrenous' pneumonia, or sloughs on any 
portion of the body which may easily become the seat of septic 
invasion; then septic alteration of the blood will be foun , 
which, when exposed to the air, remains black and non-co- 
agulated, the surface covered with oil drops and large numbers 
of septic vibriones; it is due to this fact that so many writers 
have continued to associate this disease with anthrax and septi- 
ciemia. Other local alterations of the disease vary as much as 
does the external symptomatology. An intense intestinal con¬ 
gestion is sometimes found; it is not so serious or so important, 
from a practical standpoint, as is the essential congestion 
(enteritis), but nevertheless is sufficently well marked. There 
are cases in which the patient will succumb to this condition, 
which is the first stage in the evolution of enteritis, in from three 
to five days, and before sufficient time has intervened to permit 
the development of diarrhoea. The fecal contents of the gut is 
hard, and covered with a brownish glaze, the large intestine 
filled with food material. The mucous membrane is red, injected 
and decidedly thickened; the sub-peritoneal connective tissue, 
.K.fr*. da* a» 
