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 Professional

XMPP Programming with

JavaScript® and jQuery

Jack Moffitt

40718ffirs.indd 5 12/1/09 11:12:58 AM

 Professional XMPP Programming with JavaScript® and jQuery
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-0-470-54071-8

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108
of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization
through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers,
MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the
Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201)
748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with
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tries, and may not be used without written permission. JavaScript is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or
vendor mentioned in this book.

40718ffirs.indd 6 12/1/09 11:12:58 AM

 Contents

Introduction xIx

Part I: XMPP Protocol and Architecture

Chapter 1: Getting to Know XMPP 3

What Is XMPP? 4
A Brief History of XMPP 5
The XMPP Network 6
Servers 6
Clients 7
Components 7
Plug-ins 8
XMPP Addressing 8
XMPP Stanzas 9
Common Attributes 10
Presence Stanzas 1 1   
Message Stanzas 13
IQ Stanzas 15
Error Stanzas 17
The Connection Life Cycle 18
Connection 18
Stream Set Up 19
Authentication 20
Disconnection 20
Summary 20

Chapter 2: Designing XMPP Applications 23

Learning from Others 24

XMPP versus HTTP 27
Advantages of XMPP 28
Disadvantages of XMPP 29
Bridging XMPP and the Web 30
Long Polling 30
Managing the Connection 31
Making JavaScript Speak XMPP 32

40718ftoc.indd 11 12/1/09 11:14:22 AM

 CONTENTS

Making XMPP Applications 33

The Browser Platform 33
Basic Infrastructure 33
Protocol Design 34
Summary 36

Part II: The Applications

Chapter 3: Saying Hello: The First Application 39

Application Preview 40
Hello Design 40
Preparing the Way 41
jQuery and jQuery UI 42
Strophe 42
flXHR 43
XMPP Accounts 43
Starting Your First Application 43
User Interface 43
Application Code 45
Making Connections 47
The Connection Life Cycle 47
Creating a Connection 48
Connecting Hello 49
Running the Application 53
Creating Stanzas 53
Strophe Builders 54
Saying Hello 56
Handling Events 57
Adding and Removing Handlers 57
Stanza Matching 57
Stanza Handler Functions 58
Handling Responses in Hello 59
More Hellos 62
Summary 62
Chapter 4: Exploring the XMPP Protocol:
A Debugging Console 63

Application Preview 64
Peek Design 64

xii

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 CONTENTS

Building the Console 65

User Interface 66
Displaying Traffic 68
Making XML Pretty 71
Dealing with XML Input 74
Making Input Easier 76
Exploring XMPP 81
Controlling Presence 81
Probing Versions 81
Dealing with Errors 82
Better Debugging 85
Summary 85
Chapter 5: Microblogging in Real Time: An Identica Client 87

Application Preview 88
Arthur Design 88
Microblogging with Identica 89
Creating Your Account 90
Turning on XMPP 90
Building Arthur 90
Getting Started 91
Receiving Messages 93
XHTML-IM 94
Adding XHTML-IM to Arthur 95
Sending Messages 96
Offline Messages 97
Creating a Better Microblogger 101
Summary 102
Chapter 6: Talking with Friends: One‑on‑One Chat 103

Application Preview 104

Gab Design 104
Presence 105
Messages 105
Chat Area 105
Roster Area 106
Making the Interface 106

xiii

40718ftoc.indd 13 12/1/09 11:14:22 AM

 CONTENTS

Building the Roster 109

Requesting Rosters 111
Handling IQs 113
Updating Presence Status 114
Adding New Contacts 116
Responding to Roster Changes 117
Dealing with Subscription Requests 119
Building the Chats 122
Working with Tabs 122
Creating New Chats 123
Sending Messages 124
Best Practices for Instant Messaging 127
Understanding Message Routing 127
Addressing Messages Better 127
Adding Activity Notifications 130
Understanding Chat States 130
Sending Notifications 131
Receiving Notifications 132
Final Touches 133
Gabbing More 143
Summary 143
Chapter 7: Exploring Services: Service Discovery
and Browsing 145

Application Preview 146

Dig Design 146
Finding Information 147
Disco#info Queries 147
Disco#items Queries 148
Disco Nodes 149
Creating Dig 149
Initial Disco Queries 153
Browsing the Disco Tree 155
Digging into Services 160
Finding a Proxy Server 161
Discovering Features 162
Looking for a Chat 162
Discovering More 163
Summary 163

xiv

40718ftoc.indd 14 12/1/09 11:14:22 AM

 CONTENTS

Chapter 8: Group Chatting: A Multi‑User Chat Client 165

Application Preview 166

Groupie Design 167
Public Speaking 167
Group Chat Services 167
Entering and Leaving a Room 168
Sending and Receiving Messages 1 71
Anonymity 1 71
Creating Rooms 172
Understanding Roles and Affiliations 173
Building the Interface 175
Joining the Room 179
Dealing with Presence and Messages 183
Handling Room Messages 183
Tracking Presence Changes 185
Chat History 186
Keeping It Private 187
Describing Actions 190
Managing the Room 191
Changing Topics 191
Dealing with Troublemakers 192
Recruiting Help 194
Improving Groupie 201
Summary 201
Chapter 9: Publishing and Subscribing:
A Shared Sketch Pad Introduction 203

SketchCast Preview 204

SketchCast Design 205
Everything Is Pubsub 205
Presenter’s Flow 205
Audience’s Flow 206
Filling Out Forms 206
What Is The Data Forms Extension? 206
Form Elements, Fields, and Types 207
Standardized Form Fields 210

xv

40718ftoc.indd 15 12/1/09 11:14:22 AM

 CONTENTS

Working with Pubsub Nodes 211

Creating Nodes 211
Configuring Nodes 213
Pubsub Events 215
Publishing to a Node 215
Subscribing and Unsubscribing 216
Retrieving Subscriptions 218
Retrieving Items 219
Subscription Management 221
Broadcasting Sketches Using Pubsub 222
Building the Interface 222
Sketching with Canvas 225
Logging In and Making Nodes 228
Publishing and Receiving Sketch Events 234
Summary 249

Chapter 10: Writing with Friends:

A Collaborative Text Editor 251

Application Preview 252

NetPad Design 252
Operational Transformation 253
Basic Principles 253
Details of the Algorithm 255
Implementation 256
Extending the XMPP Protocol 267
Ignoring the Unknown 267
XML Namespaces 268
Extended Elements 268
Extended Attributes 270
Contributing Extensions 271
Designing the Protocol 271
Testing for Support 272
Requesting and Controlling Sessions 272
Editing Operations 273
Building the Editor 274
The Initial Skeleton 274
Starting Editing Sessions 278
Chatting About Work 284
Making Edits 287
Expanding NetPad 298
Summary 298

xvi

40718ftoc.indd 16 12/1/09 11:14:22 AM

 CONTENTS

Chapter 11: Playing Games: Head to Head Tic-Tac-Toe 299

Application Preview 300

Toetem Design 301
Designing the Game Protocol 302
Keeping Track of Users 303
Managing Players 304
Managing Games 305
Playing and Watching the Game 308
Getting Started on Toetem 311
Implementing Sessions and the Waiting List 317
Referee Version One 317
Toetem Client Version One 322
Implementing Game Management 325
Referee Version Two 325
Toetem Client Version Two 334
Implementing the Game Logic 338
The Tic-Tac-Toe Library 338
Referee Version Three 343
Toetem Client Version Three 345
Making the Game More Fun 372
Summary 373

Part III: Advanced Topics

Chapter 12: Getting Attached: Bootstrapping BOSH 37 7

Session Attachment 378

The Mechanics of Sessions 378
Use Cases 379
Automatic Logins with Session Attachment 380
Creating the Django Project 381
Summary 385

Chapter 13: Deploying XMPP Applications 387

Growing Horizontally 387

Multiple Connection Managers 388
Clustering XMPP Servers 391
Spreading Out Components 392
Federating Internally 393
Becoming a Server 393

xvii

40718ftoc.indd 17 12/1/09 11:14:23 AM

 CONTENTS

Growing Vertically 394

Reducing Latency 394
Minimizing XML Serialization 397
Optimizing DOM Operations 398
Summary 399

Chapter 14: Writing Strophe Plug-ins 40 1

Using Plug-ins 402

Loading Plug-ins 402
Accessing Plug-in Functionality 402
Building Plug-ins 403
Creating a Roster Plug-in 404
Storing Contacts 405
Getting and Maintaining the Roster 407
Manipulating the Roster 411
Taking the Plug-in for a Spin 412
Improving the Roster Plug-in 417
Summary 417

Appendix A: Getting Started with jQuery 419

Appendix B: Setting Up a BOSH Connection Manager 429

Index 441

xviii

40718ftoc.indd 18 12/1/09 11:14:23 AM

 Introduction

XMPP powers a wide range of applications including instant messaging, multi-user chat, voice
and video conferencing, collaborative spaces, real-time gaming, data synchronization, and even
search. Although XMPP started its life as an open, standardized alternative to proprietary instant
messaging systems like ICQ and AOL Instant Messenger, it has matured into an extremely robust
protocol for all kinds of exciting creations.
Facebook uses XMPP technology as part of its chat system. Google uses XMPP to power Google
Talk and its exciting new Google Wave protocol. Collecta has built a real-time search engine
based extensively on XMPP’s publish-subscribe system. Several web browsers are experimenting
with XMPP as the basis of their synchronization and sharing systems. Dozens of other companies
have XMPP-enabled their web applications to provide enhanced user experiences and real-time
interaction.
The core of XMPP is the exchange of small, structured chunks of information. Like HTTP, XMPP
is a client-server protocol, but it differs from HTTP by allowing either side to send data to the other
asynchronously. XMPP connections are long lived, and data is pushed instead of pulled.
Because of XMPP’s differences, it provides an excellent companion protocol to HTTP. XMPP-powered
web applications are to AJAX what AJAX was to the static web site; they are the next level of interactiv-
ity and dynamism. Where JavaScript and dynamic HTML have brought desktop application features to
the web browser, XMPP brings new communications possibilities to the Web.
XMPP has many common social web features built in, due to its instant messaging heritage.
Contact lists and subscriptions create social graphs, presence updates help users keep track of who
is doing what, and private messaging makes communication among users trivial. XMPP also has
nearly 300 extensions, providing a broad and useful range of tools on which to build sophisticated
applications. With only a handful of these, along with the core protocol, amazing things can be built
This book teaches you to harness the promise of XMPP in your own applications, enabling you to
build applications that are social, collaborative, real time, or all of the above. You will develop a
series of increasingly sophisticated XMPP applications, starting from “Hello, World!” and finishing
with a collaborative text editor, a shared sketch pad, and a real-time, multi-player game. By the end,
you will have all the tools you need to build the next generation of applications using XMPP or to
add new real-time, push, or social features to your current applications.

Who This Book Is For

This book is written for developers interested in making XMPP applications. You need not have
any previous experience with XMPP, although it will certainly be helpful if you do. The book starts
from the assumption that you’ve heard great things about XMPP and are looking to dive right in.

40718flast.indd 19 11/30/09 4:03:01 PM

 introduction

The JavaScript language is used to develop all the applications in the book because it is an easy lan-
guage to understand, is familiar to a large number of programmers, and comes on every computer
with a web browser. Even though this book uses JavaScript, all the concepts and applications could
be developed in any language; most of the “hard parts” are not related to the programming language,
the libraries used, or the web browser. You do not need to be a JavaScript expert to understand and
work with the code in this book.
It is assumed that you understand the basic front-end web technologies, CSS and HTML. If you’ve
ever written a little HTML from scratch and changed a few CSS styling properties, you should be
fine.
This book also makes use of two libraries, jQuery and Strophe. It is helpful if you have used
jQuery before, but if you haven’t, a short primer is included in Appendix A. The Strophe library is
explained fully as the applications are developed.

What This Book Covers

The XMPP protocol and its extensions cover a lot of ground. This book focuses on the pieces of
XMPP in wide use. The following topics receive much attention:
➤➤ XMPP’s instant messaging features like rosters, presence and subscriptions, and private chats
➤➤ XMPP stanzas, stanza errors, and client protocol syntax and semantics
➤➤ Extending XMPP stanzas
➤➤ Service discovery (XEP-0030)
➤➤ Data Forms (XEP-0004)
➤➤ Multi-User Chat (XEP-0045)
➤➤ Publish-Subscribe (XEP-0060)

Although these topics are all approached from the client side, almost all of it is equally applicable to
XMPP bots or server components and plug-ins.
The book also covers XMPP programming related topics such as application design, event handling,
and combining simple protocol elements into a greater whole. Along the way, a few web programming
topics are also discussed such as the Canvas API.
XMPP is now more than 10 years old and quite mature. This book covers the 1.0 version of the core
protocol. The XMPP protocol parts of this book should work unchanged in future versions of the pro-
tocol, just as HTTP 1.0 clients can easily communicate with HTTP 1.1 servers.
XMPP has many extensions and several of these are also covered. For the most part, the book con-
centrates on extensions that are in a stable, mature state. For each extension used, the document
number is always given, and if in doubt, you can always check the latest version of the extension to
see if it has been changed or superseded.

xx

40718flast.indd 20 11/30/09 4:03:01 PM

 introduction

The book was written with the 1.3 series versions of jQuery and the 1.7 series versions of jQuery UI.
These libraries generally remain backward compatible to a large degree. Version 1.0 of the Strophe
library is used, but future 1.X versions should also work fine.

How This Book Is Structured

This book is primarily organized as a walkthrough tutorial of a series of example XMPP applica-
tions. Each application increases in difficulty and teaches you one or more useful parts of the XMPP
protocol and its extensions. These applications are stripped down for clarity, but they are examples
of the kinds of applications XMPP developers create every day.
This book is divided into three parts.
The first part is an introduction to the XMPP protocol, its uses, and XMPP application design.
Chapter 1 covers the use cases for XMPP, the history of the protocol, and its component parts. Chapter 2
explains when XMPP is a good choice for the job and goes into detail about how XMPP applica-
tions work, particularly for the Web.
The second part is the meat of the book and contains nine XMPP applications that solve a variety of
problems. Each application is more complex than the last and builds on the concepts of the previous
ones. Chapter 3 starts with a simple “Hello, World!” type example, and by Chapter 11 you build a
real-time, multi-player game.
The last part covers a few advanced but important topics. Chapter 12 discusses attached sessions, a
useful trick for security, optimization, and persistence. Chapter 13 goes into detail about how best
to deploy and scale XMPP-based applications. Chapter 14 explains how to use Strophe’s plug-in sys-
tem and how to create your own plug-ins.

What You Need to Use This Book

This book makes use of web technologies and therefore requires almost no special tools. You can
use, build, and run the applications in this book on virtually any platform. The libraries needed for
the applications are explained in Chapter 3, and most can be used without downloading any code.
You will need some way to serve web pages such as a local web server or a hosting account some-
where. If you don’t have these readily available, you can use the Tape program to serve the files; Tape
is a simple web server and is explained in Appendix B. It is an unfortunate requirement of browser
security policy that you can’t easily run these applications directly from your local file system.
You will need an XMPP account (or multiple accounts in some cases if you want to test the code
by yourself) to run the applications. You can avail yourself of any of the public XMPP servers for
this purpose, although you will need to ensure that the server has support for publish-subscribe and
multi-user chat; most do. You can also download and run your own XMPP server instead, although
this is not covered in the book.

xxi

40718flast.indd 21 11/30/09 4:03:01 PM

 introduction

Chapter 12 requires some server-side assistance. The example uses the Python programming lan-
guage along with the Django framework to provide this. This chapter is an advanced topic and is
not needed for the normal applications in the book.

Conventions
To help you get the most from the text and keep track of what’s happening, we’ve used a number of
conventions throughout the book.

Boxes like this one hold important, not-to-be forgotten information that is
directly relevant to the surrounding text.

Notes, tips, hints, tricks, and asides to the current discussion are offset and
placed in italics like this.

As for styles in the text:

➤➤ We highlight new terms and important words when we introduce them.
➤➤ We show keyboard strokes like this: Ctrl+A.
➤➤ We show file names, URLs, and code within the text like so: persistence.properties.
➤➤ We present code in two different ways:
We use a monofont type with no highlighting for most code examples.
We use boldface highlighting to emphasize code that is of particularly
importance in the present context.

Source Code
As you work through the examples in this book, you may choose either to type in all the code
manually or to use the source code files that accompany the book. All of the source code used in this
book is available for download at http://www.wrox.com. Once at the site, simply locate the book’s
title (either by using the Search box or by using one of the title lists) and click the Download Code
link on the book’s detail page to obtain all the source code for the book.

xxii

40718flast.indd 22 11/30/09 4:03:03 PM

 introduction

Because many books have similar titles, you may find it easiest to search by
ISBN; this book’s ISBN is 978-0-470-54071-8.

Once you download the code, just decompress it with your favorite compression tool. Alternatively,
you can go to the main Wrox code download page at http://www.wrox.com/dynamic/books/
download.aspx to see the code available for this book and all other Wrox books.

Errata
We make every effort to ensure that there are no errors in the text or in the code. However, no one
is perfect, and mistakes do occur. If you find an error in one of our books, like a spelling mistake
or faulty piece of code, we would be very grateful for your feedback. By sending in errata, you may
save another reader hours of frustration and at the same time you will be helping us provide even
higher quality information.
To find the errata page for this book, go to http://www.wrox.com and locate the title using the Search
box or one of the title lists. Then, on the book details page, click the Book Errata link. On this page
you can view all errata that has been submitted for this book and posted by Wrox editors. A com-
plete book list including links to each book’s errata is also available at www.wrox.com/misc-pages/
booklist.shtml.

If you don’t spot “your” error on the Book Errata page, go to www.wrox.com/contact/techsupport
.shtml and complete the form there to send us the error you have found. We’ll check the information
and, if appropriate, post a message to the book’s errata page and fix the problem in subsequent
editions of the book.

p2p.wrox.com
For author and peer discussion, join the P2P forums at p2p.wrox.com. The forums are a web-based
system for you to post messages relating to Wrox books and related technologies and interact with
other readers and technology users. The forums offer a subscription feature to e‑mail you topics
of interest of your choosing when new posts are made to the forums. Wrox authors, editors, other
industry experts, and your fellow readers are present on these forums.
At http://p2p.wrox.com you will find a number of different forums that will help you not only as
you read this book, but also as you develop your own applications. To join the forums, just follow
these steps:
1. Go to p2p.wrox.com and click the Register link.
2. Read the terms of use and click Agree.

xxiii

40718flast.indd 23 11/30/09 4:03:03 PM

Other documents randomly have
different content
which the external mammary vein penetrates the abdominal wall
(Fig. 178).
Lines uniting these three points enclose a right-angled triangle,
which the operator must imagine to be bisected by a third line.
The incision, which should be about 8 inches in length, follows this
bisecting line at an equal distance between the white line and the
circle of the hypochondrium, to a point within about 8 inches of the
anterior margin of the mamma. All these points are readily
observable before the animal is cast.

Fig. 178.—Seat of operation for puncturing the pericardium by way of the ensiform
cartilage. L B, White line; H, line of the hypochondrium; V. M.a., anterior
mammary vein; P, point where the pericardium is punctured through the incision.

The cutaneous incision affords exit to large quantities of fluid, and

the pectoral muscles attached to the neck of the ensiform cartilage
can then be divided with the bistoury. The area of operation is thus
uncovered.
Second stage. The second phase comprises incision of the tissues
opposite the neck of the ensiform cartilage, about 8 inches in front of
the base of the triangle and at equal distances from the points Nos. 1
and 2; incision through the skin for a distance of 8 inches, and
dissection of the muscles of the ensiform region exposed at the neck
of the cartilage.
 By means of the index finger or the index and middle fingers of the
right hand the mediastinal space is explored, and the fatty masses
round the base of the heart broken through. If the pericardium is
greatly distended, the point of the sac can be felt with the tip of the
finger, or its position can be recognised, even from a little distance,
on account of the fluid contents transmitting the impulse of the
heart. The sensation conveyed to the finger is very clear.
The right index finger is then replaced by the left, and, a trocar
about 10 inches long and ¼ inch in diameter being introduced along
the index finger used as a director, the pericardial sac is reached. The
exudative fluid transmits the impulse due to the beating of the heart,
and the pulsations can be clearly distinguished when grasping the
handle of the trocar.
Third stage. Digital exploration of the course of the puncture and
fatty cushion at the base of the heart, with the object of discovering
the position of the pericardium.
Fourth stage. Puncture with a trocar about 10 to 12 inches in
length, puncture of the pericardium, irrigation and dressing.
 Fig. 179.—Photograph of a patient immediately after operation. Extensive
œdema of the dewlap and neck.

The trocar is inclined in a slightly oblique direction from without

inwards and forwards towards the median plane, in order that the
point may not deviate towards the left pleural sac; the left index
finger is then withdrawn, and by a sharp thrust of the right hand the
trocar is pushed forward about 1 to 1½ inches and the pericardial sac
is entered.
The position of the canula should not be altered whilst liquid is
escaping, for if it is thrust in too far a considerable quantity of fluid
may remain in the deepest portion of the sac.
The cavity having been drained, a long strip of iodoform gauze is
introduced into the track and a protective surgical dressing applied
over the incision in order to prevent infection by the litter.
In consequence of the introduction of the fingers into the track
caused by puncture and the escape of pericardial liquid along the
canula or after removal of the canula, the operative wound is
necessarily infected; but this is of little importance, because the
opening is inclined downwards, and also because it is impossible to
hope for aseptic healing.
The dressing is renewed after forty-eight hours, and every three or
four days afterwards.
The œdematous infiltration about the front portion of the body
disappears rapidly in two to three days, and should the animal be
slaughtered the meat is quite sound in appearance.
This operation does not aim at effecting a cure, but is simply for
the purpose of allowing animals which would otherwise be valueless
to be slaughtered and sold.

Fig. 180.—Photograph of the same subject as Fig. 179, taken six days later.

CHRONIC PERICARDITIS.

Pericarditis when due to tuberculosis may assume the chronic

form. Tuberculous pericarditis, at least in a large number of cases, is
only accompanied by slight exudation, which might remain
unnoticed unless the animals were carefully examined; but it causes
the internal surface of the pericardial sac and the surface of the
myocardium to become covered with exuberant vascular growths,
which by setting up adhesions lead to partial or generalised union of
the heart and pericardial sac. Between these adhesions, which form
partitions, are found little cavities filled with sero-sanguinolent,
grumous, or caseous liquid. In time the adhesions increase in
number, pericarditis obliterates the free space, and the heart
becomes wholly adherent to the pericardium.
As in acute pericarditis, the fibrous layer undergoes thickening and
hardening processes. The superficial layers of the myocardium
undergo sclerous transformation, and the tissues forming the
adhesions themselves may assume the characters of fibrous tissue.
In one solitary case Moussu saw another form of chronic
pericarditis with complete adhesion of the heart and pericardial sac,
without any exudation and almost without any false membranes. He
was unable to determine the exact cause, but was strongly inclined to
regard the disease as having followed pericarditis à frigore or
pericarditis of a rheumatic character.
Adhesions between the heart and pericardial sac are also said to be
the inevitable though delayed result of all punctures of the
pericardium through the ensiform cartilage in cases of pericarditis
due to a foreign body.
Symptoms. If the chronic pericarditis is limited to a few partial
adhesions, it remains unnoticed; but when it is more marked it offers
certain signs of acute pericarditis, such as partial dulness of the
cardiac area, which is more extensive than usual, disappearance of
the cardiac shock, weakening of the sounds, feebleness of the pulse,
very marked venous pulse, moderate stasis, extremely rapid and
aggravated dyspnœa when the animal is forced to walk, threatened
asphyxia if exercise is prolonged, and complete asystole.
All these symptoms are due to the existence of adhesions between
the heart and pericardium, which, by destroying the interpericardial
space, interfere with diastole while preventing regular systole.
Sudden death is a frequent consequence.
The diagnosis of chronic pericarditis is very difficult. The
prognosis is extremely grave, and we do not possess any means of
 dealing with the
condition.

PSEUDO-
PERICARDITIS.

Under this title we

purpose grouping a
certain number of
pathological accidents
due to different causes,
but manifesting
themselves by identical
symptoms, which
symptoms offer so
marked a resemblance
to those of pericarditis
produced by foreign
bodies as to suggest
the presence of that
disease. This refers to
Fig. 181.—Schema of a subpleural abscess accidents by which the
on the right side which produced foreign body closely
symptoms of pericarditis (pseudo- approaches, without
pericarditis). Po, Right lung, partly actually touching, the
splenised and thrust upwards; Pl, parietal pericardium, the lung
pleura separated from the wall of the lower or the pleural sacs, but
half of the chest; A, cavity of the subpleural in which it causes
abscess. purulent collections
which displace the
pericardium, indirectly compress the heart, and finally cause
symptoms of an apparently pericardial character.
Causation. During the development of pericarditis the foreign
body perforates the reticulum and diaphragm, passing along the
middle line of the body, without which it would not come in contact
with the pericardium. If the perforation, however, occurs to the right
or left of the median plane, the foreign body moves forward just as
easily, but it misses the pericardium and passes either into the lung,
where it causes fatal pneumonia; or the pleura, where either it sets
up septic pleurisy in the subpleural connective tissue or produces an
abscess.
The abscess is generally lateral, situated in the right subpleural
region, or it may develop below the pericardium. These are the two
varieties of pseudo-pericarditis seen by Moussu.
There is, however, a third variety, which might be called “parasitic
pseudo-pericarditis.” It is extremely rare, and Moussu has only seen
one case. It was due to the presence of an enormous hydatid cyst of
the right lung as large as a man’s head, which was situated towards
the mediastinal plane of the lung and pressed on the supero-
posterior surface of the heart and pericardium. In consequence of the
permanent downward pressure which it exercised it interfered
seriously with the heart’s action and caused symptoms of pseudo-
pericarditis.
Symptoms. The general and external symptoms are those of
pericarditis—viz., dulness, diminution in appetite, irregular
rumination, wasting, œdema of the dewlap, distension of the
jugulars, marked venous pulse, great anxiety and dyspnœa when the
patients are forced to move, etc.
But the cardiac symptoms differ notably, and moreover vary,
according to the nature of the lesions. Speaking generally percussion
reveals complete dulness on one or both sides, and auscultation
always indicates the absence of sounds due to extravasated fluid in
the pericardial sac.
When the abscess is situated below the pericardium, a condition
difficult to diagnose, the dulness seldom extends very high on either
side of the chest, and the sounds heard over the cardiac area, while
much weaker than usual, are audible above the normal points.
An abscess developing beneath the pleura on one side displaces
the heart in the opposite direction. The cardiac beat is weakened by
the compression, but, nevertheless, transmits an impulse to the
purulent fluid, which in its turn conveys it outwards through the
intercostal spaces in the form of movements corresponding in
rhythm with the beating of the heart, so that at first glance one might
imagine an aneurism existed at the base of the large arterial trunks.
The lower pulmonary lobe is thrust upwards, and over the area of
dulness pulmonary sounds completely disappear.
When the heart is compressed by a large hydatid cyst or other
lesion, the general and external symptoms are similar to those above
described.
Finally, one last symptom, which appears of some importance,
may be mentioned. When animals suffering from pericarditis due to
a foreign body are forced to move, the heating of the heart becomes
so tumultuous that it can no longer be counted, and even in a state of
rest it may rise to 140 or 150 beats per minute. In cases of pseudo-
pericarditis it rarely rises above 90 or 110.

Fig. 182.—Appearance of an animal suffering from pseudo-pericarditis (infra-

pericardial abscess). The dotted outline indicates the space occupied by the heart,
which is thrust upwards.

Diagnosis. The attempt to diagnose this condition accurately

must not be regarded merely as a result of scientific curiosity. Under
certain circumstances the diagnosis may be of very great importance.
While the patient affected with pericarditis due to a foreign body is
beyond all hope of recovery, certain cases of pseudo-pericarditis
appear amenable to treatment.
The diagnosis, therefore, is of great importance, and the
practitioner should spare no effort to confirm it, bearing in mind the
symptoms enumerated, and remembering that the normal sounds of
the heart never completely disappear.
An aseptic exploratory puncture with a long, fine needle will
sometimes prove of great assistance.
Prognosis. Although grave, the prognosis is less so than in true
pericarditis.
Treatment. If clearly recognised, both subpleural and
subpericardial abscesses seem curable. By freely puncturing the pus-
filled cavity through an intercostal space, the liquid may be
evacuated and recovery may occur. Healing is favoured by carefully
washing out the cavity with a non-irritant disinfectant.
The only precaution required in making such punctures is to avoid
the internal thoracic artery and vein, the intercostal artery, and the
lower cul-de-sac of the pleura.
 CHAPTER III.
ENDOCARDITIS.

If the symptoms of pericardial diseases are well defined, we cannot

say the same of diseases of the heart, properly so-called. Such
affections often pass unnoticed, being detected only on post-mortem
examination. Moreover, cardiac diseases are rare. Very frequently
they are only of a secondary nature, accompanying or following
better recognised conditions, such as infectious diseases, post-
partum infections, etc.
Causation. Endocarditis, i.e., inflammation of the endocardium
and valves, is rarely primary, simple and benign. It was formerly
thought to be the result of chills or of the rheumatic diathesis. These
simple forms of endocarditis usually escape observation, though
careful examination in the first instance reveals them.
Much more frequently, however, endocarditis is secondary,
malignant, infectious and infecting. This variety occurs as a
complication of post-partum infection or of very serious general
conditions, such as peripneumonia, gangrenous coryza, aphthous
fever, tuberculosis, etc. To detect it, not only must the original
disease be accurately diagnosed, but all the changes the disease is
producing in important organs must be followed.
While it is generally admitted that all forms of endocarditis, even
of the most benign character, are originally due to infection, it is
certain that in those of the second group the organisms which have
entered the bloodstream through a lesion of the uterus, lung or other
tissue, are endowed with very great virulence. They attack some
point on the endocardium, and produce either ulcerations which
become covered with fibrous clots, or exuberant new growths of a
pathological nature, which generally are papilliform, fragile, and
prone to become detached by rupture of their pedicle and thus to be
launched into the general circulation and to form emboli. The
surface of these infected vegetations, like that of the ulcerations,
becomes covered with fibrinous clots, which are readily loosened,
form emboli in their turn, and infect distant organs.
Symptoms. The general symptoms of infectious endocarditis are
by far the most important. They consist of prostration, loss of
appetite, severe thirst, and high temperature. The local symptoms
consist principally of murmurs: soft murmurs due to insufficiency of
the auriculo-ventricular valves, heard during systole, particularly
opposite the point of the heart where the cardiac shock is most
clearly felt. This fact differentiates them from the murmurs of
chronic endocarditis, which are usually due to aortic contraction, and
are accompanied by a systolic sound heard at the base of the heart,
more in advance and at a higher point than those now under
consideration.
These murmurs or souffles furthermore vary in intensity and in
character, according to whether the endocarditis results from post-
partum infection, pyæmic disease, or some other cause.
Diagnosis. The diagnosis of endocarditis has not yet been the
object of really careful study in bovine pathology, but there is no
doubt that it can often be detected by patient examination.
Prognosis. The prognosis is very grave, and patients may die in a
few days.
Treatment comprises vigorous local stimulation over the cardiac
area, the administration of antithermic and antiseptic drugs, such as
salicylate of soda, or of digitalis, sparteine or other cardiac tonics.
Pathologists have also described, chiefly as post-mortem
curiosities of interest to pathological anatomists, various diseases
and lesions due to insufficiency or contraction of the auriculo-
ventricular, aortic, and pulmonary openings, lesions due to
infectious myocarditis, to the presence of parasites and to other
causes.
The symptoms of these various diseases or lesions in bovine
animals are still too imperfectly understood to permit of more than a
very limited description.
In the present state of our knowledge, diagnosis would always be
of an uncertain character, and for this reason we do not propose to
deal with them at present.
 CHAPTER IV.
DISEASES OF BLOOD-VESSELS.

Diseases of vessels, arteries or veins, in animals of the bovine and

ovine species are frequently nothing more than localisations of grave
general disorders, and rarely admit of treatment. This is specially the
case in regard to arteries, but a study of the diseases of veins has
some practical importance.

PHLEBITIS.

Phlebitis, i.e., inflammation of a vein, is of interest only in the case

of bovine animals. In them certain conditions may occur which the
practitioner should understand, with a view either to prevention or
treatment. Inflammation of the veins may be due to external causes,
such as surgical or accidental wounds (phlebotomy wounds,
accidental wounds, local inflammations, etc.), or to internal causes of
infectious origin (general infection, puerperal infection, etc.).

ACCIDENTAL PHLEBITIS.

The jugular vein may become inflamed as a result of accidental

wounds or of phlebotomy, but the mammary vein in cows is much
more frequently affected. In both cases the disease is due to infection
of the clot which seals the vessel; it may assume the form of either
adhesive phlebitis or suppurative phlebitis. Whether produced
directly by the use of infected instruments or whether it is of a
secondary character, traceable to the clot being infected by germs
entering from without being conveyed to the wounds by the head-
stall chains, by litter, manure, etc., the result is the same. The
inflammation, at first confined to the endothelium, extends to the
wall of the vein and causes fibrin to be precipitated over the inner
wall of the inflamed vein for a distance varying with each case.
If the microorganisms do not produce suppuration, the vein
appears simply thrombosed and inflamed, the phlebitis remains of
an adhesive character, and may disappear spontaneously, provided
the animal be kept quiet. If, on the other hand, suppuration is set up,
the clot gradually breaks down, the internal surface of the vein
develops granulations and undergoes suppuration, and the phlebitis
is then said to become suppurative. The clot may even become
entirely detached, transforming the suppurative phlebitis into a very
grave form of hæmorrhagic phlebitis.
The jugular is the commonest seat of adhesive phlebitis, the
mammary vein of suppurative phlebitis.
Symptoms. The symptoms are easy to recognise. The accidental
or instrumental wound is the seat of a painful œdematous swelling.
It discharges a reddish offensive serosity, or exhibits blackish-violet
bleeding granulations surrounding a little central sinus.
The affected vein, whether the jugular or mammary, soon becomes
swollen, is sensitive to the touch and very rapidly becomes indurated
in the direction of its origin for a greater or less distance.
Phlebitis has then set in, and according as one or other
complication predominates, it is described as suppurative or
hæmorrhagic.
Diagnosis and prognosis. The diagnosis presents no difficulty.
In phlebitis of the jugular the neck is held stiffly, and the jugular
furrow is partly obliterated.
The prognosis is somewhat serious, particularly in phlebitis of the
mammary vein, for obliteration of the vein interferes with the
function of the venous plexus from which it springs, and, although
there may be a limited vicarious circulation, the secretion of milk is
indirectly and secondarily checked owing to difficulty of irrigation.
The extension of phlebitis of the jugular towards the head and the
venous sinuses of the cranial cavity, is quite exceptional.
When the mammary vein is inflamed it appears collapsed in the
direction of the heart and swollen, indurated, and painful in that of
its origin in the mammary gland.
 Treatment. The first point requiring attention is so to fix the
animal as to prevent the clot from being pressed upon or crushed,
though, unfortunately, this cannot always be properly done. The
difficulty is obviated by applying vesicants, which cause swelling and
pain, and so reduce natural movement of the parts to a minimum.
At first, when the parts surrounding the operative wound are
simply swollen and phlebitis is threatened, repeated application of
tincture of iodine or a liquid vesicant is useful, and may prevent the
disease developing.
In existing cases a blister applied over and around the whole of the
hardened tract may prevent the mischief from proceeding beyond
the adhesive stage. In such case the clot becomes organised, the vein
remains obliterated, and recovery follows.
Similar treatment may also be employed in suppurative phlebitis,
but as the clot gradually breaks down in consequence of the action of
bacteria it is useful and almost indispensable to disinfect the vessel.
For this purpose the opening of the sinus must be enlarged, and, by
means of a sterilised or very clean syringe with a curved nozzle, the
parts washed out daily with warm boiled water, followed by an
antiseptic injection containing 2 per thousand of iodine, 3 per cent.
of carbolic acid, or, better still, glycerine containing 1 per thousand of
sublimate.
If in spite of this treatment the phlebitis extends towards the
origin of the jugular or mammary vein, a counter-opening may be
made at the point where the clot still remains adherent, and a strip of
iodoform gauze saturated with tincture of iodine or with blistering
ointment diluted to one-eighth with oil may be passed. Needle firing
is also of value. Finally, as a last resource, a ligature may be applied
to the vein above or beyond the clot.
This operation, which in the horse is confined to hæmorrhagic
phlebitis, is especially applicable to phlebitis of the mammary vein in
the cow. As the vein is subcutaneous, the operation may easily be
performed in the standing position; the successive stages are as
follows:—
The patient is firmly secured and its hind limbs hobbled by passing
a rope around the hocks in a figure of eight. It is steadied on one side
by an assistant who presses on the quarter.
 One cubic centimètre of a 10 per cent. solution of cocaine is
subcutaneously injected on each side of the vein at the point chosen.
Ten minutes later a button-hole incision is made through the skin
and a loop of thick catgut passed around the vein by means of a
curved needle. The ligature is tied firmly with a surgical knot and the
little wound afterwards covered with a mass of cotton wool secured
by collodion.

INTERNAL INFECTIOUS PHLEBITIS (UTERO-OVARIAN

PHLEBITIS).

The internal forms of phlebitis of parasitic or infectious origin are

as yet little understood, but mention may be made of phlebitis of the
utero-ovarian veins which frequently follows parturition and post-
partum infection. This is probably in many instances the real cause
of the post-partum paraplegia without gross or apparent material
lesions.
This form of infectious phlebitis may extend to the large internal
and external iliac veins and produce embolism and septicæmia, as is
shown by recorded cases.
The mechanism of the disease is easily understood. The infective
agents penetrate the veins of the uterine mucous membrane and pass
from the lumen into the wall of the vein. Here they cause
inflammation of the vascular endothelium, followed by the deposit of
a fibrous clot of cylindrical form, which sets up partial thrombosis of
the vein. This thrombosis becomes complete by the formation of a
central clot due to venous stasis.
It is not necessary for the germs to penetrate at a number of
points. The thrombosis progresses until it gains a large trunk beyond
the original point of infection.
Symptoms. Phlebitis of the veins of the pelvis is frequently
misunderstood or overlooked, because the practitioner is apt to
confine his attention to external signs, the paresis and paraplegia of
the hind quarters.
The symptoms usually appear from five to eight days after normal
parturition or parturition in which there is retention of the after-
birth followed by metritis. The animals show fever and lose appetite,
signs which may be due to metritis, but soon after they experience
difficulty in rising, and some days later remain permanently
recumbent.
The circulation is weak, and the entire intra-pelvic region painful;
the large nervous trunks are affected, exertion becomes difficult, and
the animals refuse to rise. At this stage they should not be forced to
do so.
In two to three weeks improvement may occur and lead to
recovery but in many instances various complications in the nature
of purulent infection or septicæmia set in, or the animals are
previously slaughtered.
Diagnosis. The diagnosis can only be determined after the
symptoms develop. Confirmation might in some cases be obtained by
rectal exploration made methodically and gently.
Prognosis. The prognosis is grave.
Treatment. Treatment should be based on disinfection of the
uterus by injections of boiled water or warm iodised solutions and
drainage by means of strips of iodoform gauze. The animals should
be placed on a thick and scrupulously clean bed, and as far as
possible be spared any considerable exertion for a fortnight. By
changing their position once or twice a day complications may be
avoided.

UMBILICAL PHLEBITIS OF NEW-BORN ANIMALS.

One of the most serious conditions met with in practice is that

known as umbilical phlebitis of new-born animals. Whilst in fact it is
easy to deal with phlebitis of the jugular or mammary vein, surgical
or medical assistance becomes extremely difficult in this case,
because the inflamed vein is deeply situated in the abdomen and
passes through one of the most important internal organs, viz., the
liver. When it is added that umbilical phlebitis is in 95 per cent. of
cases of a suppurative character, the reader may form some idea of
its gravity.
Unless the condition is early diagnosed and measures are at once
taken, such complications as infectious hepatitis, purulent infection,
and septicæmia cannot be avoided. Death is then inevitable.
In order clearly to understand this phlebitis, however, it is
necessary to recall the anatomical formation of the umbilical region
in the new-born animal.
At birth the umbilical cord is represented by a cylindrical mass,
surrounded by the terminal portion of the amnion. It enters the
abdomen through a circular perforation in the abdominal wall
known as the umbilical ring. This ring may be divided into two parts,
one deeply seated, the fibro-aponeurotic ring, consisting of an
aperture in the white line; the other the superficial or cutaneous ring,
formed by the skin, which is wrinkled all round it, and constitutes a
kind of sleeve about an inch in length. This cutaneous sleeve is
continuous with the amniotic tissues. The entire umbilical cord is
therefore enveloped in an amniotic-cutaneous sheath.
 Fig. 183.—Position of the abdominal viscera in a new-born animal: Ru,
rumen; E, epiploon; Rg, left kidney; Ig, small intestine; C, abomasum; U,
ureter; O, urachus; R, rectum. Umbilical cord: Vo, Umbilical vein; Aa,
allantoid arteries; Va, allantoid veins; O, the urachus.

It is composed of four principal structures—the umbilical arteries,

the umbilical vein, the urachus, and the interstitial mucous tissue.
The umbilical arteries and vein consist of two parts—the extra-
fœtal part, which co-operates in forming the cord, and the intra-fœtal
part.
The first is formed of two arteries and two veins, in contra-
distinction to the condition in solipeds, where the cord only contains
one vein. In the second, the arrangement is as follows: The two
umbilical allantoid arteries on entering the abdomen curve
backwards towards the entry of the pelvis, passing over the sides of
the bladder enveloped in the lateral ligaments, and extend upwards
towards the bifurcation of the aorta, finally pouring their contents
into the internal iliac arteries. In the adult they may still be traced as
annexes of these latter vessels. The two umbilical veins on passing
through the ring unite to form one within the abdomen. This vessel
passes forwards, rising along the lower abdominal wall, then
becomes lodged in the thickness of the inferior middle ligament of
the liver, and finally penetrates that organ where it unites with the
portal vein. It is also connected with a vessel known as “the vein of
Arantius,” which places it in communication with the posterior vena
cava, a vein not found in solipeds.
The fœtal blood is purified by exchanges between it and that
circulating in the maternal placenta, and when re-arterialised it
returns by the umbilical vein.
The urachus, found in the embryo and fœtus, eventually gives rise
to the bladder. In new-born animals this viscus is therefore open at
its base, and communicates with the allantoid cavity through the
urachus. The urachus starts from the base of the bladder, and,
extending along the median plane of the lower abdominal wall
between the two umbilical arteries as far as the umbilical opening,
takes its place in the cord alongside the vessels. Through it the
secretions of the fœtal kidneys drain into the allantoid cavity. The
interstitial mucous tissue, also called “Wharton’s jelly,” is a
gelatinous material which unites these different vessels and helps to
support and protect them in the umbilical cord. It is particularly
abundant opposite the umbilicus.
Immediately after birth the umbilical cord ruptures of itself as a
result of the fall which the young animal experiences or of
movements made by the mother, as for instance when she attempts
to rise. In certain other cases it is divided by the mother biting it, or
it may be ligatured by some person present. However the rupture
may be brought about, it always occurs at a distance of 2 to 4 inches
from the umbilicus. The immediate result is to produce thrombosis
of the umbilical vessels and obstruction of the urachus. The two
umbilical arteries rarely bleed, for hæmostasis is brought about by
stretching, and these arteries, being very elastic, almost immediately
retract and close. The umbilical veins simultaneously become
blocked, and the single intra-abdominal vein having no further
raison d’être, gradually becomes obliterated. The urachus should
normally be obliterated at the moment of delivery (Colin and Saint-
Cyr), or at any rate soon afterwards, as a consequence of rupture of
the cord (Chauveau and Zundel).
Immediately after delivery another change sets in. The extra-fœtal
portion of the cord, which remains attached to the umbilicus, dries
on contact with the air, the Wharton’s jelly retracts, the whole
undergoes a kind of necrosis, assumes the appearance of a dry scab,
and in eight or ten days falls away, leaving in its place the umbilicus,
which should be half cicatrised on the fall of the cord. Thus the
umbilical cord presents an extra-fœtal degenerated portion and a
persistent portion about ½ to 1 inch only in length, buried in the
cutaneous ring of the umbilical region.
If all the changes indicated occur normally and physiologically, the
little wound in the region of the umbilicus cicatrises in a perfectly
regular way. But unfortunately this is not always the case. At times
the cicatrix becomes contaminated by manure, urine or dust,
suppurates, and may then become the seat of various complications,
such as umbilical phlebitis, omphalitis or persistence of the canal of
the urachus.

UMBILICAL PHLEBITIS OR OMPHALO-PHLEBITIS.

History. Umbilical phlebitis, and in a more general sense all

pathological conditions of the umbilicus, in new-born animals have
been the object of numerous investigations by Lecoq, Bénard, Loiset
(1843), Bollinger (1874); and more recently by Morot (1884),
Uffredizzi (1884), Chassaing (1886), etc.
Omphalo-phlebitis may occur as a primary condition or may
appear as a complication of omphalitis and of persistence of the
urachus. It consists essentially in suppurating inflammation of the
umbilical vein, but is not infrequently accompanied by omphalitis,
arteritis, peritonitis, and cystitis.
Causation. The disease results from infection of the (normal) clot
and of the wound resulting from severance of the cord. The infection
may only cause simple phlebitis of the umbilical vein, but if the
organisms are virulent the phlebitis almost inevitably degenerates
into suppurative phlebitis.
 Formerly omphalo-phlebitis was thought to be caused by the
mother licking the foal, by irregular tearing of the cord, by crushing
and separation of the obliterating clot, etc. The truth is that all these
causes favour infection of the umbilical wound, which is the primary
cause, suppurative phlebitis being secondary only.
When the cord is ruptured both the veins and arteries become
plugged, and bleeding ceases. This plugging should end in
organisation of the clot and obliteration of the vessels. If, however,
the wound is infected, microorganisms make their way between the
clot and walls, and extend along the inner surface of the vein,
infecting first the clot and then the vein, and thus setting up
suppurative phlebitis.
If suppuration does not continue, recovery may occur
spontaneously. Infection may be confined to the clot, producing
simple phlebitis, but it often extends along the umbilical vein to the
liver, causes infectious hepatitis and purulent infection or
septicæmia. Similar results may be produced by infection of the
arteries, the organisms making their way as far as the bifurcation of
the aorta, and thus gaining the general circulation. Moussu believes
that this is the commonest method by which septicæmia is produced
in calves.
Symptoms. In these cases it is usually the general symptoms
which first attract attention, the local lesion passing unnoticed for a
greater or less time.
The animal shows intense fever, due to either suppurative
phlebitis, infectious hepatitis, or, as often happens, to generalised
infection. Appetite is lost, diarrhœa is abundant, the respiration and
circulation are accelerated, and the temperature rises to 104° Fahr.,
or even 105° Fahr.
The local symptoms are those usually associated with omphalitis
or phlebitis. An examination of the umbilical ring reveals an
œdematous, hot, sensitive swelling, the lower part of which exhibits a
chronic, suppurating, fungoid, blackish wound of unhealthy
appearance.
This wound is the seat of one or more sinuses which penetrate the
vein, arteries, or urachus. If only one sinus exists, it always passes
upward and forward into the umbilical vein. The utmost precaution
should be employed in examining the parts. Should it be thought
desirable to probe the sinus in order to discover its direction, the
probe must be very cautiously introduced, and only for a short
distance, because rough handling would tear the tissues and carry
infective material to deeper seated points.
Complications. These are numerous and very grave. Long ago
Lecoq described a disease suggestive of laminitis, which beyond
doubt was only a form of purulent infection. At a later date Loiset
studied a disease following omphalitis, in which interstitial abscesses
developed in the cord. This also was simply purulent infection.
More recently complications such as pleurisy, pneumonia,
infectious endocarditis, diarrhœic enteritis, and especially
suppurative polyarthritis of young animals have been referred to
omphalo-phlebitis. All these complications result from infection. The
microorganisms themselves or the toxins they secrete appear to have
a particularly injurious action on the serous membranes, a fact which
throws light on the frequency of such complications as pleurisy,
peritonitis, endocarditis and arthritis.
Intoxication also plays a certain part, and microbic toxins are
responsible, at least at first, for the uncontrollable diarrhœa, arthritis
with sterile exudations, etc.
Diagnosis. This presents no difficulty. The alarming general
symptoms seen at the outset immediately suggest in the case of
young animals the possibility of disease in the umbilical region.
Prognosis. The prognosis is grave, it may be said very grave,
because treatment is difficult to apply, and dangerous complications,
which almost always prove fatal, may already have been set up.
One must always distinguish, however, and take into account in
forming the prognosis, the special characteristics of the phlebitis,
and weigh carefully the signs of complication. The fistula should be
cautiously explored, and its depth, etc., noted, while the temperature,
circulation, respiration, etc., should be carefully studied.
Treatment. A very important item of treatment consists in
regularly and scrupulously cleansing the region of the umbilicus after
the cord has separated and until the wound has completely
cicatrised. The parts are washed with boiled water and dusted with
boric acid, iodoform, etc.
 A still better plan, and one that almost certainly guards against
this disease, is to apply an antiseptic dry dressing as soon as the new-
born animal has become dry. This need only consist of a small sheet
of antiseptic cotton wool fixed to the umbilicus by four pitch
bandages or by two pieces of webbing passed over the back. In this
way contamination of the cord and the risk of infection are avoided.
In cases of fully-developed phlebitis the old generation of
practitioners used to recommend local dressings with adhesive
plasters, astringent and vesicant applications, etc. All such methods
are useless, because they only act on a part of the diseased structures
and cannot reach the blind ends of the sinuses. The classic treatment
of suppurative phlebitis also is out of the question.
All that can be done, therefore, is slightly to open up the sinuses
and wash them out frequently with antiseptic solutions, such as
boiled water, sublimate glycerine, carbolic glycerine, etc., afterwards
applying antiseptic dressings. These methods, however, are scarcely
likely to put an end to infectious complications such as suppurative
polyarthritis.
There is no danger in using strong carbolic solution, 3 per cent.
creolin, 4 per cent. chloride of zinc, sulphate of copper, etc. Should
there be several sinuses and should one of them extend in a
backward direction, it is necessary to make certain that no
communication exists between the urachus and the bladder. For this
purpose some boiled water may be injected into the sinus. If a
communication exist, this water will fill the bladder and distend the
urachus. The treatment necessary in this case is similar to that of
persistence of the urachus.
It is well in all cases to be guided by the following principle: never
to resort to treatment unless suppuration has occurred and the sinus
is blind. To check suppuration a blister may be applied around the
umbilical region while means are taken to prevent the animal licking
the parts.
Chassaing in 1886 suggested a rather original method of operation
which deserves description. It is founded on the permanent
treatment of sinuses, and consists in introducing a flexible osier
stick, a kind of bougie, enveloped in tow and moistened with the
following mixture:
 Collodion 3 parts.
Sublimate 1 part.

This is introduced for a distance of 3 to 4 inches into the fistula, and

is fixed to the skin with gutta-percha or pitch. The dressing is
renewed every five or six days, and healing takes place, it is said, in
one, two, or at most three weeks.
It is very likely that if the sinuses were previously cleared and
simply plugged with antiseptics or treated by introducing pencils of
salol, nitrate of silver, sulphate of copper, iodoform, etc., at least as
good results might be obtained.
 CHAPTER V.
DISEASES OF THE BLOOD.

SEPTICÆMIA OF NEW-BORN ANIMALS.

The above title is given to that exceedingly fatal disease commonly

known as “white scour,” etc., the mortality in which often rises to 95
per cent.
The disease was studied by Poels in Holland in 1889, Dèle in
Belgium in 1891, Perroncito in Italy, Galtier in the centre of France in
1891–92, and quite recently by Nocard in Ireland in 1901.
It occurs throughout all the breeding districts of France, and in
some parts causes enormous losses, the mortality comprising two-
thirds or even three-fourths of all new-born calves. In certain
breeding establishments in Normandy all the new-born animals
without exception die unless special precautions are adopted.
In foals, septicæmia of the new-born is very rare, because horse-
breeding establishments are much better cared for, and breeding
mares are segregated. In byres, on the other hand, the greatest
promiscuity exists. The disease is equally uncommon in lambs,
although it makes numerous victims in folds which have once been
attacked. It is, however, quite common in young pigs.
Symptoms. The development and course of the disease are in
certain respects characteristic.
The disease usually appears within two or three days after birth,
and only in rare cases after the second week. Calves which at birth
appeared vigorous and in good health are found dull on the second
day; after the second or third meal they suffer from diarrhœa, and
from that time refuse all nourishment, lie down as though exhausted,
and sometimes die very rapidly.
 Some even perish in ten to twelve hours without showing
diarrhœa; although apparently well at night, they are found dead or
dying the next morning. This is the peracute form.
Most frequently the young creatures suffer for two or three days,
sometimes a week. Appetite is partly preserved; at first the diarrhœa
resembles that due to inability to digest milk, but the fæces soon
become greyish or blackish and very fœtid. The hair of the tail,
quarters and hocks is soiled and matted, the skin irritable and
reddish; the patients lose strength, appear unsteady on their limbs,
and develop rapid respiration and tumultuous action of the heart.
They take little food, become weaker by degrees, and die in a
condition of exhaustion.
Fever, well marked at first, frequently diminishes, and the
temperature may remain normal for several days, falling to 97°
Fahr., or even 95° Fahr., twenty-four hours before death.
This is the commonest form of the disease. It lasts three to five
days, and is always grave.
Cattle-men recognise the disease chiefly by the diarrhœa and loss
of appetite.
Lastly, a third and rarer form occurs during which appetite is
maintained in spite of the diarrhœa. The animals remain thin,
develop poorly, but survive for a month, six weeks or two months.
The diarrhœa diminishes or disappears, but its disappearance is
followed by complications such as broncho-pneumonia, pleuro-
pneumonia, endocarditis, acute arthritis, etc., a fact which led Prof.
Galtier to give the disease the name of “septic pleuro-pneumonia in
calves.” These complications, again, are extremely grave, and
generally prove fatal after a period of varying length. They are due to
local development of microorganisms of the kind which produce
septicæmia, and similar to those described under the name of
broncho-pneumonia of intestinal origin in sucking calves.
They differ, however, as regards their cause, from the primary
affection, and may be due to very varied organisms, the commonest
being those of suppuration. These organisms, in fact, are alien to the
primary disease, and obtain entrance from without, very probably by
the tracheobronchial tract.
 In young pigs septicæmia assumes the same forms as in the calf. In
lambs the chronic form seems more frequent than the peracute and
the ordinary forms.
Causation. The septicæmia of calves, and possibly of all new-
born animals, of whatever species, is produced by a microbe which
flourishes in the manure and litter of stables, and which Nocard
included in the group of Pasteurella. It can be found in the blood
from the moment the first external symptoms appear until the time
of death. During the last hours, however, the bacterium Coli
communis also invades the circulation in many instances, and if
cultures are not made until some hours after death, the colon bacillus
and bacteria of putrefaction are more particularly discovered.
The microbe of calf septicæmia can be readily cultivated in jelly or
in ordinary liquid media. Injected into the veins of experimental
animals, it reproduces the clinical symptoms, and causes death more
or less rapidly, according to the dose injected.
The virulence of cultures grown in defibrinated calf’s blood seems
more intense, and Moussu has been able to reproduce the clinical
form of the disease by applying to the umbilical cord of a new-born
animal a pledget of cotton wool saturated with such a culture, and
covering it with a dressing. The germs of the disease are spread
throughout the byres through the medium of fæces. When the
umbilical cord has become dry, that is, after the third day, the
application of virulent cultures to the stump no longer causes
infection.
Pathogeny. The pathogeny of this septicæmia of calves and of
new-born animals is easy to explain.
At birth the young animals fall on the litter, and the umbilical cord
becomes contaminated. The infective agent, finding an excellent
culture medium in the tissues of the cord, at once begins to develop,
increases in enormous numbers, steadily ascends along the cord, and
sets up septicæmia. It grows in the gelatinous Wharton’s jelly and in
the fibrinous plug closing the arteries and umbilical vein, and soon
enters the true circulation. Septicæmia is then fully established,
general disturbance sets in, and with it the diarrhœa by which it is
externally indicated.
 It is important to remember, however, that infection occurs most
readily through the medium of the cord, and during the first few days
after birth: it may occasionally be brought about towards the eighth
or tenth day, when the shrivelled portion of the cord falls; in this case
its entrance is effected through the little umbilical wound.
Lesions. The lesions are sometimes so obscure that the
practitioner may hesitate to deliver an opinion.
In acute cases, where death occurs in two or three days, or even in
ten to twelve hours, post-mortem examination reveals only increased
vascularity of the serous membranes—the peritoneum, pleura,
pericardium, etc.; and it may be almost impossible to discover
anything abnormal in the cord, for although the clots closing the
arteries and veins are infected, they are neither separated from the
walls of the vessels nor broken up.
On the surface of the urachus, at the base of the bladder, and in the
depths of the peritoneal folds supporting the allantoid arteries
(sometimes also the hepatic vein), unequivocal signs of local
ascending infection may, however, almost always be found, together
with intense injection of the capillaries, little hæmorrhagic spots, and
commencing formation of false membranes, etc.
The infection extends also by the lymphatic vessels contained in
these peritoneal folds, and finally attains the sublumbar region.
When the disease develops less rapidly the peritoneal cavity
contains a certain quantity of blood-stained serosity, as do the
pleuræ and pericardium, whilst vascular engorgement of the serous
membranes is extremely marked. The intestine shows traces of
congestion and inflammation throughout its length, and its contents
contain the specific organism in very large numbers.
Finally, in the chronic forms, the serous membranes and the
intestine seem only slightly attacked, possibly because the lesions
have undergone retrogressive changes. The striking features are the
secondary lesions, such as those of pneumonia, broncho-pneumonia,
pericarditis, and abscess formation in the lung.
Nocard gives the following description of the lesions found during
his investigation of “white scour” of calves in Ireland (Veterinarian,
April, 1902, p. 171; see also Prof. Mettam’s paper, Veterinarian,
June, 1902, p. 307):—“The lesions found on autopsy vary according
to whether the evolution of the disease has been rapid or slow. One
lesion, however, is never absent—that of the navel and the navel
vessels. In all the calves attacked we found a large umbilicus with
hardened coats enclosing a clot easily broken down, sometimes soft
and purulent. In every case, also, we observed blood suffusions, often
very extensive, along the course of the umbilical vessels and of the
urachus, invading often the posterior third of the bladder. In cases
where the evolution had been rapid we found the lesions of true
hæmorrhagic septicæmia. All the viscera were congested to excess;
their surface was studded with petechiæ, ecchymoses, or subserous
blood suffusions. The capillary network of the peritoneum, pleura,
and pericardium appeared strongly injected. This lesion was
especially marked on the epiploon. The intestine was the seat of
intense congestion, especially at the level of the ‘floating colon.’
“The mucous membrane was thickened, gorged with blood, and
friable; the solitary glands, thick and protruding, were sometimes
transformed into a kind of bloody magma, or they were ulcerated, as
in anthrax; the contents of the bowel were mixed with a large
quantity of blood. The mucous membrane of the fourth stomach was
altered nearly to the same degree; it was studded with interstitial
hæmorrhages, especially above the level of the open edge of its folds.
The mesenteric glands—especially those of the colon—were
enormous, gorged with blood, reddish, and often hæmorrhagic. The
mucous membrane of the bladder was often covered with petechiæ,
the urine which it contained was clear and limpid, but always rich in
albumen. [In one sample which was analysed, the urine contained
more than 4 grammes of albumen to the litre.] The lungs were
gorged with blood, like the intestines; sometimes they were
manifestly œdematous, but generally their tissue was still supple,
elastic, permeable, and without apparent lesion.
“In the subacute forms the lesions are much less marked. The
mucous membrane of the intestine is less congested; sometimes
œdema of the submucous tissue exists. The mucous membrane of the
fourth stomach is often punctuated with brownish-red patches,
traces of the capillary hæmorrhages which were produced at the
onset of the disease. The mesenteric glands are swollen, gorged with
serum, but not hæmorrhagic; the liver is large and of a yellowish tint;
the spleen is little altered; the urine always contains albumen; the
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