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ELEX'EXTH LECTURE.

Sepsin, Septic Hatter, Septicaemia.
In speaking of sepsin, septic matter, septicaemia and this
group of words I am in danger of running counter to defini-
tions you may have found in dictionaries or definitions that
may have been given by others, because there is a great dif-
ference among different men in the use of these words. The
fact is, this group of words came into use before we knew
anything of micro-organisms, at the time when we supposed
that decompositions resuUed from certain molecular motions
taking place in compounds that were not very stable. The
words have been retained some of them are still used, but in
;
significance somewhat dififerent from their former meaning.
Scpsiii is really any poison produced in any of the de-
compositions, excluding, perhaps, the well-known fermen-
tations, as alcoholic, acetic, lactic, etc. This w^as the original
significance of the word. A poison occurring during decom-
positions of matter of any kind, including all the varieties of
these poisons—substances containing these w^ere called sep-
tic matter. Consequently, the term is a general one, cover-
ing all such poisons. Sepsis or septicaemia was used where it
was supposed that the person was sick from the absorption
of poisons produced during decompositions. These two
words, sepsis and septicaemia, are now used more where it is
supposed that the poison has been absorbed from foul
wounds, wounds that are not doing well, or something of
that kind. Some other authors use the word septicaemia in
cases in which it is supposed that micro-organisms are grow-
ing in the blood and producing poisons there. This expres-
sion is now confined mostly to certain conditions in which
there is a low, continuous fever ; person out of health, but
not presenting the grouping of symptoms marking any of
the well-defined diseases, and yet where it is supposed there
are micro-organisms growing in the blood, producing a
poison that gives rise to fever from its action upon the nerve
centers. The word is often applied also to conditions of
poisoning of the lymphatic glands. Most of you have seen
persons with swellings, such as felons upon the finger, or

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