American Veterinary Review, 
SEPTEMBER, 1877 . 
ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
A CONTRIBUTION REGARDING THE SEPTIC DECOM¬ 
POSITION OF THE BLOOD. 
By PROF. E. SEMMER, of the Royal Veterinary Institute of 
Dorpat, Russia. 
[Translated from the German (Virchow’s “ Arcliiv fur pathologishe Anatomie,” 
67 vol., 3d part, page 371), by F. S. Billings, of Boston, Mass., for the 
American Veterinary Review.] 
Septic decomposed blood is characterized in general by its dark, 
brownish black, or changed color, its abnormal thick consistency, and 
its non-ability to coagulate; through the numerous ecchymosis found in 
different patts of the organism, the serous cavities of the body are found 
more or less filled with a yellowish, or reddish transudation, the intestinal 
mucosa is more or less affected, and the cadaver rapidly becomes de¬ 
composed. In the blood are to be found suspended numerous bacteria, 
representing the micrococcus, streptococcus, microbacteria, streptobac- 
teria of Billroth. The red blood cells are found in a state of dissolution, 
sometimes almost entirely absent immediately after death, the serum of 
the blood is brown colored. The putrid decomposition of the blood is 
to be distinguished from that following fully developed septicaemia by 
the following characteristics. By the putrid blood-intoxication we find 
micrococcen and streptococcen (“Kugel und Kittenbacterien), Fig. 1 and 
2 , by completely developed septicaemia, on the contrary microbacteria 
and streptobacteria (Stabchen und Fadenbacterien,”) Fig. 3 and 4. 
Anthrax (charbon) bears the strongest resemblance to septic blood 
decomposition. By anthrax we find dark blackish brown, tar-like blood, 
