3o6 Veterinary Medicine. 



one of the colon group). In the milk and mammary gland tissue 

 got from other (slaughtered) cows, a micrococcus growing in 

 yellow or buff-colored colonies predominated. (Moore and Ward). 

 That the colon bacillus, so constant in the intestines and manure, 

 is not always found in the milk ducts, would show that in its 

 normal condition it is not adapted to this habitat, but w^lien a 

 variety appears that is so fitted, it appears to be able to maintain 

 its place indefinitely. 



With such facts before us, we must allow the possibility of 

 poisoning by toxins of bacteria in the udder, or by compounds 

 formed by the synthesis of such toxins and the leucomaines of 

 the expanding udder, or by the union of the udder toxins with 

 those from the womb. The whole subject of microbian and 

 leucocytic causation of parturient fever is still hypothetical, yet 

 enough is known to show the high probability of such source, 

 and to demand a thorough investigation which will place the 

 subject on a substantial and assured basis. 



Nature. Theories of the nature of this disease are numerous 

 and varied, and are largely based upon some restricted or one- 

 sided view of phenomena and lesions. Coutamine considers it as 

 the reaction of the surplus of nerve force, which was not used up 

 in the easy parturition. The theory is somewhat fantastic as an 

 explanation of the rapidly developing asthenia and paralysis. 

 Billings explains the cerebral anaemia as due to vaso-constriction 

 of the nervous capillaries produced by the exaggerated excita- 

 bility of the uterine nerves. But with the easy parturition, and 

 delivery, and the moderate contraction of the womb, without 

 violence or spasm, the theory .seems rather insubstantial. Tras- 

 bot looks on the affection as a congestion of the myelon^ appar- 

 ently shutting his eyes to the far more prominent encephalic 

 symptoms. Haubner considers it as a cerebral anaemia induced 

 by the vaso-dilatation in the portal system and aljdominal viscera 

 generally, the result in its turn of the vacuity of the abdomen, 

 from the expulsion of the foetus and its connections. But the 

 womb is often found contracted and comparatively exsanguine, 

 the plethoric condition of the cow, suddenly increased b}' the 

 great mass of blood from the uterine vessels, maintains a marked 

 general blood tension, and finally, the closed box of the cranium 

 cannot have its blood .so completely drained from it as can a part 



