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1S4 DENTAL MEDICINE.
teni, inflammation of internal organs, with typhoid symptoms,
and more or less heart failure. The septic poisoning is due to
the entrance into the blood of ptomaines, certain forms of micro-
organisms, or some ferment-like substance possessing the power
of reproduction, and acting like the virus of diphtheria or tetanus.
Septicemia is classified as septic intoxication, and septic infec-
tion ; in the first class there is early absorption of the products
of putrefaction ; but in the second class the symptoms develop
more slowly, and progressive changes occur which continue to a
fatal termination notwithstanding all the efforts at antiseptic
treatment, and is due to the invasions of micro-organisms into
the blood. The prominent symptoms of septicemia are a chill,
followed by a rise of temperature ioi° to 105°, nausea, vomit-
ing, and at times diarrhoea, followed by delirium and coma.
The symptoms depend upon the character of the infecting or-
ganisms.
Treatment.—Both local and constitutional. The prophy-
lactic treatment consists in inducing an asceptic condition
of the wound and surrounding parts and the employment of
antiseptics. Irrigation with bichloride of mercury solution, i to
1000, or peroxide of hydrogen in moderate quantity, or carbolic
acid solution, i to 20, is necessary, and in some cases curretting
the surface of the wound to permit the remedy to reach deeper
parts is also required. The wound is then packed with anti-
septic gauze, or warm antiseptic fomentations may be applied to
bring about free drainage.
Saline purgatives are employed to eliminate the organisms, and
the strength of the patient maintained by quinine and stimulants
until the secretory organs shall have eliminated the poison from
the blood. Tincture of digitalis in from 5 to 10 drop doses is em-
ployed for the heart failure, or strychnia in doses of ^V 'o io of
grain every two to six hours. The diarrhoea is to be controlled
by opium, or bismuth and tannin.
Pyemia or Septic Fever is a disease developed during the process
of suppuration in wounds or the formation of abscesses, and is
induced by the presence of pyogenic micro-organisms (bacteria)
in the blood. It is accompanied with the formation of secondary