.^[ETRITIS, .\fETROPERITOXITIS, AM> I'ARTUPdEXT FEVER. 633 



the recent wounds or lacerations of the genital organs by any means — 

 as directly by the hand, instruments, sponges, straw, etc., or indirectly 

 through the atmosphere, when the septic micro-organisms are sus- 

 pended therein — the so-called miasmatic infection. There is a close 

 relationship between abortion and parturient fever — a Cow suffering 

 from the latter being undoubtedly dangerous in a stable or pasture 

 where there are a number of pregnant cattle ; while a case of abortion 

 or placental retention occurring in a stable, might be considered nearly 

 as serious among parturient Cows. 



A retained and decomposed placenta is undoubtedly a fertile source 

 of parturient fever. Franck refers to three instances, in which the 

 Cows calved in a normal manner and the fcctal membranes came away 

 in four hours after ; but a trifling wound existed in the mucous mem- 

 brane, at the entrance to the vagina. In two or three days afterwards 

 these animals showed very acute symptoms of parturient fever. They 

 stood near another Cow whose uterus contained a decomposing placenta. 

 The emanations from the vulva or discharges of this animal had, there 

 can scai-cely be a doubt, infected the three ; or the soiled straw may 

 have been the means of conveying the septic matter to the vulvar 

 wounds ; the tail of the Cow may even have been an active agent in 

 throwing the vaginal discharges about, as it is generally much soiled 

 by them. 



External infection may also be conveyed by means of cords, crotchets, 

 and other obstetrical appliances, if they are soiled with septic matters — 

 which they may be, if previously used in the removal of a decomposing 

 foetus ; and the operator himself may be the means of infecting. An 

 instance of this kind is related as occurring in Switzerland, during 

 1861-63 ; in a large cowshed containing about 200 head of cattle, 

 suddenly a number died of parturient fever, though they had no 

 difficulty in calving. For a long time afterwards no other births took 

 place, so no more accidents of this kind were observed ; but it was 

 strongly suspected that the herdsman who attended the first sick 

 animal, cleaned it, etc., in assisting the others during parturition, had 

 conveyed the infection to them. And it is quite possible that many 

 serious and wide-spread outbreaks of parturient fever in cattle are 

 due to an obstetrist who has been engaged in removing a dead fcx'tus 

 or a retained placenta. The same cause may be in operation among 

 Ewes during the lambing season, when, as is well known, parturition 

 occurs in the flocks within a limited period, and under circumstances 

 favourable to the spread of infection ; and not infrequently large 

 numbers of Ewes perish from parturient septicicmia (" heaving pains "). 



We have mentioned that exposure to cold is supposed to be one of 

 the causes of parturient fever. Franck, however, is of opinion that real 

 parturient fever cannot be so produced, and in this he is correct ; the 

 malady is of septic origin, micro-organisms (the Micrococcus scpticiis 

 ])ucrperalis of Arloing?) being the active agents in engendering the 

 disease. 



General infection takes place when there are parturient sores or 

 ulcers in the vulva, vagina, or uterus, and this infection is manifested 

 externally by the high temperature and other serious symptoms. In 

 other cases, when only a small quantity of septic matter has been 

 absorbed, the symptoms have more of a local character ; they are 

 less severe, and though the fever may be of a continuous character, 

 yet it is not so acute, and indications of peritonitis are generally absent. 



