OMPHALOPHLEBITIS. 
425 
OMPHALO-PHLEBITIS. 
By Dr. Lee Hoover, V.S. 
(Paper read before the Indiana Association of Veterinary Graduates at New 
Castle, Ind., Aug. 21, 1893). 
Omphalo-phlebitis is a functional disease of young animals, 
occurring soon after birth, and has for a long time been re¬ 
corded in districts where breeding has been largely carried 
on, the animals affected belonging to the equine, bovine and 
ovine species, dogs and pigs being occasionally affected. I 
shall confine my remarks to the disease as found in foals. 
In some years it prevails very extensively, and appears in 
some regions to be almost enzootic. By some authorities it 
is supposed to be a constitutional disease, by others as scrofu¬ 
lous in its nature, while others again consider it as essentially 
pysemic. But when we take into consideration the anatomy 
of the omphalo-mesenterifc vessels and the urachus, especially 
the former, connected as it is with the very life of the young 
animal, and the filth which usually surrounds it immediately 
after birth, it is surprising that more foals are not affected with 
this disease. 
There may or may not be a persistence of the urachus ; 
but omphalo-phlebitis nearly always follows this disorder, 
more especially if it is allowed to continue any length of time. 
Neither sex, color nor breed seem to have anything to do 
with the contracting of this disease. 
Causes. 
Though great diversity of opinion exists as to the etiology 
of this disease of young animals, all agree that the predis¬ 
posing cause is the period of youth, as it appears only during 
lactation. This fact disposes of its constitutional or hereditary 
nature, and has inclined some pathologists to attribute its 
cause to an alteration in the composition of the milk of its 
mother. Bollinger, whose scientific and most valuable re¬ 
searches in comparative pathology entitle his opinions to the 
greatest consideration, entertains different views as to the or¬ 
igin of this malady. He contests the influence of food in the 
