Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-31
Blood Poisoning.
PY.EMIA AND sEPTIC.EMIA.

DiOOu fOfSOnlnSs
PY.EMIA AND sEPTIC.EMIA.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
The word pyamia is composed Of two Greek
words, pion. pus, and anaid, blood, meaning pus
in the blood. Septic@mia is alike composed of
two Greek words septikDs. exciting putrifaction,
and Gnaia, blood, meaning substance which ex-
cites the blood to putrifaction. The term py9naid
is used to express condition of the blood con-
tanning impure pus absorbed by the veins during
the process of suppuratiOn of a wound or organ
OF the body. The term septicGsnid is used to
denote that condition Of the blood produced by
the introduction into the blood. through the
skin, OF putrd or partially putrd substance
These terms are used exclusively to denote an
unhealthy state of the blood caused by the in
truSiOn into 1t OF poisonous or impure animal
matter. One is generated trittin the body and
the other tcitaOW the body. For example
if an individual has suppuratino wound
the pus, SO formed, sometimes quickly de-
composes, and the pus SO decompOsed is now
and then taken up by the veins and carried into
the blood and poisOns it. and the disease arising
from the blood being thus poisoned is known by
the name OF pyGn,ia: Or if an individual is
handling putrid animal matter, and some of the
matter gets into the blood through his skin. by
an abraded surface wound and is absorbed
into the blood and pOisons it, the condition pro-
duced Dy such poison is recognized by the name
of septtcTnaid. These two terms are used to
ter within the blood. and are separately used to
tell the manner in which such matter has been
carried into the blood or system. pygn,ia oc-
ours secOndarlly when an individual is sick and
suffering from suppuratiOn in some part of his
body, while septic9nia occurs primarily. when
he is In health. One pervades the whole sys-
TEN, while the other usually affects only one To-
cality.
SYMPTOMS.
When the blood is self.poisoned. as in pup,nio.
a u
mol Self-pOlsOned as in septicPnid; but both con-
ditlOns OF the blood are announced by very near
~ the same symptoms; and the first and invaria-
bic intimatiOn of the fact that the blood has be-
come poisoned, is given by the occurrence of a
severe. unexpected and prolonged rigor or chill.
followed by fever and profuse and heightened
perspiratlOn or sweating. This chill soon passes
OIL, and afterward the general condition is COM
paratively improved, and the chill is regarded as
not OF serious import. but this improvement or
apparent cessation of violent symptoms, is of
out temporary duration, and in a day or two,
the rlgOrs or chillS return. and are followed by
the sweats, and over and again, at irregular and
varying intervals the rgors, chils and sweats
return, and with their repetition the skin as
sumes sallow tnge Heaviness or restlessness
set In. and all the appearances of case of
typhoid fever present themselves. But it is
neither malarial nor typhoid fever, but pya,nia.
The pulse becomes rapid. feeble and intermit-
tent, varying from one hundred to two hundred
-
movement OF the body is sufficient to send up
the action of the heart fifteen or thirty beats in
minute; but, after the cessation of the disturb
ance, the action goes back to the number shown
just before the disturbing of the body. The
tongue becomes brown, dry and fuTfed; it is
often glazed; and the lips are dry and parched
while the thirst is excessive. The appetite
is lost, or impaired and occasional vOmit-
ing or sickness of the stomach occur. The
respiration becomes shallow and frequent
and slight cough begins, and is accompanied
by an accumulation of mucous in the throat, and
pains in and about the chest. After the chills
and perspiratiOn disappear the skin becomes hot
dry and jaundiced, and pains and swellings pre-
sent themselves about the JOINTS and other parts
OF the body, and pus is rapidly formed in such
swelings. AS the disease advances the voice
becomes hollow and emaciation and prOstratOn
become extreme. The face is pale and shrunken;
and the mental powers become impaired and
disturbed. Slight delirium is present and some
tunes ends in coma. or commissions; and
death, in severe cases, usually occurs. about the
fourth or tenth day. Pyamia is not Arrays thus
severe and fatal and while presenting all the
usual symptoms. it is fortunately not always
mOrt0Ay malignant; and now and then quits the
acute course, and pursues chronic one and
follows the rule of the hectic fever of consump-
ton. Assesses form in different parts of the
body: and after weeks Of exhaustion, with the
physical powers changing in rapid succession,
from approaching deathtO apparent restoration.
life sinks into dissolution, or after long and
tedious convalescense, is restored to health
j. B. JOHNSON. NJ D..
922 New York avenue.