Data from the literature on the clinical effects of bacterial endotoxins in ruminants are reviewed. Special attention is paid to the effects on body temperature and reticulo-rumen motility. Furthermore, the effects of repeated intravenous injection of endotoxin are summarised. Pathophysiological disturbances after intramammary infusion of endotoxins proved to be identical to those found after intravenous injection of non-lethal doses. Strikingly, however, no marked inhibitory effect on rumen motility nor abortion was observed after intramammary infusion of endotoxins. Moreover, in cows that were made tolerant to endotoxin by daily intravenous injections, intramammary infusion of one-fifth of this daily dose produced a maximum effect on body temperature and plasma Zn concentrations. This suggests that inflammatory endogenous mediators were released in the udder and then absorbed into the blood circulation, rather than the absorption of endotoxin.