188 
E. SEMMER. 
agony), putrid micrococcen, chain-bacterias, or septic, micro and strepto- 
bacteria. In such cases, we find ichorous masses in uterus, and at the 
same time injuries of the uterine mucosa, or ichorous diptheritic inflam¬ 
mation of the uterus. The reception of the putrid elements from the 
uterus into the circulation is, in this case, the cause of the septic puer¬ 
peral fever. 
A further source for septic decomposition of the blood is to be 
sought in the so-called flatulent colic, especially by horses. Here ac¬ 
cumulates the gases (C0 2 , H 3 S and others) in the stomach and intes¬ 
tines in great quantities, so that the abdomen is distended, the diaphragm 
pressed forward into the thorax, and the respiration disturbed. The nox¬ 
ious gases become absorbed by the blood-vessels, and the reception of oxy¬ 
gen by the lungs hindered. The animals die from asphyxia, with blood 
poisoning also at some time from the noxious gases. By the obduction, 
the stomach and intestines as found distended by gases, the intestinum 
crassum inflamed in most cases; but we do not always find volvulus 
with gangrenous necrosis of the volvulated intestines, but often rupture 
of the intestines or of the stomach, and emptying of their contents in 
the abdominal cavity with peritonitis. The blood is, in all cases, of an 
abnormal color, dark blackisk brown, and contains septicbacteria ; the 
red blood cells are in process of disintegration. That the above is the 
nature of the blood, very often in cases where neither gangrene or rup¬ 
ture has taken place, is well known ; so we must look for other sources 
for the septic decomposition than gangrenous or ichorous centres. 
The same comes to pass even more markedly by animals which 
have been overheated or overexerted, which die suddenly therefrom, or 
gradually die from asphyxia. By such animals the blood is found to be 
tar-like, and also contains microbacteria. Here the oxygenation by 
means of the lungs is insufficient for the wants of the organism, or to 
equalize the decomposed materials caused by the severe muscular ac¬ 
tion. The latter accumulate in the blood, and septic decomposition 
takes place from want of active oxydation of the same. 
The same processes take place in many cases from suffocation in 
consequence of lung and heart diseases, or chronic poisoning from nar¬ 
cotic substances. 
The want of oxygen and especially ozon gives a favorable oppor¬ 
tunity for the development of septicbacteria. The latter being found 
by obductions immediately following death, we have not to do in these 
cases with first mortal blood changes; the named characteristic phenom¬ 
ena fail by animals which have met their death from other diseases. 
