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.