262 O. W. HOLMES 



deadly results of autopsies, the inoculation by fluids from 

 the living patient, the murderous poison of hospitals does 

 there not result a conclusion that laughs all sophistry to 

 scorn, and renders all argument an insult? 



I have had occasion to mention some instances in which 

 there was an apparent relation between puerperal fever and 

 erysipelas. The length to which this paper has extended 

 does not allow me to enter into the consideration of this 

 most important subject. I will only say that the evidence 

 appears to me altogether satisfactory that some most fatal 

 series of puerperal fever have been produced by an infection 

 originating in the matter or effluvia of erysipelas. In evi- 

 dence of some connection between the two diseases, I need 

 not go back to the older authors, as Pouteau or Gordon, but 

 will content myself with giving the following references, 

 with their dates; from which it will be seen that the testi- 

 mony has been constantly coming before the profession for 

 the last few years: 



"London Cyclopaedia of Practical Medicine," article Puer- 

 peral Fever, 1833. 



Mr. Ceeley's Account of the Puerperal Fever at Aylesbury, 

 "Lancet," 1835. 



Dr. Ramsbotham's Lecture, "London Medical Gazette," 



1835. 



Mr. Yates Ackerly's Letter in the same journal, 1838. 



Mr. Ingleby on Epidemic Puerperal Fever, " Edinburgh 

 Medical and Surgical Journal," 1838. 



Mr. Paley's Letter, "London Medical Gazette," 1839. 



Remarks at the Medical and Chirurgical Society, "Lancet," 

 1840. 



Dr. Rigby's "System of Midwifery," 1841. 



"Nunneley on Erysipelas," a work which contains a large 

 number of references on the subject, 1841. 



"British and Foreign Quarterly Review," 1842. 



Dr. S. Jackson, of Northumberland, as already quoted 

 from the Summary of the College of Physicians, 1842. 



And, lastly, a startling series of cases by Mr. Storrs, of 

 Doncaster, to be found in the "American Journal of the 

 Medical Sciences" for January, 1843. 



The relation of puerperal fever with other continued 





