Pyæmia does not supervene at once upon a trauma as may septicæmia, but only after a variable number of days, (3 to 8), a peculiarity which is explained by the temporary protection of the clot. By the constant accretions on its exterior, of the new layers of hæmatoblasts and fibrin, the microbes are at first imprisoned, and it is only when softening has taken place, or when the coagulum has extended into the free flowing current passing into a colateral trunk, that the infection is liable to be washed on in dangerous amount. The mere presence of pus microbes or their toxins in the blood, does not determine pyæmia: a modification of the intima of the vessels leading to local infections with thrombosis or embolism and abscess is an essential condition. This lesion of the vessels may be a trauma, as from bruise, puncture, operation, ligature, or it may be the extension of a disease process as in arteritis, phlebitis, atheroma, the growth of a tumor from adjacent tissues, or parasitism. The seat of the secondary abscess depends primarily on the location of the original suppurating centre. As such centres are most commonly in the systemic circulation (osteomyelitis, omphalitis, wounds, traumas) the lungs are most commonly attacked, the pulmonary capillaries acting as a sieve and arresting the floating infective coagula. When the primary infection comes from the chylo-poietic viscera, the liver is likely to show the first crop of secondary abscesses. When, on the other hand, the primary abscess is in the lungs, the great flow of blood through the kidney renders it especially subject to secondary suppurating foci, though these may form in any part of the body.