ON PUERPK R A I. FEVER IN THE COW. 
495 
formly small calves, while those of an opposite constitution, al- 
though lean, have generally large ones. A fat state of body is 
alone, by many, considered to be a cause of this disease; shewing, 
as it does, the materials and processes of assimilation to counter- 
balance the expenditure of vital power, a state certainly favourable 
to disease of various kinds. 1 have, however, uniformly observed, 
that here puerperal fever, in the character we are now considering 
it, seldom makes its appearance unless the vascular, and, conse- 
quently, the lacteal, systems are fully developed — a state not always 
in unison with the former. 
The disease never occurs at the first or second calving, should 
that take place at or before the animal is four years of age — very 
rarely, indeed, at the third — and not often at the fourth, if these take 
place before the animal is five years old. It frequently occurs at 
the fifth, and the liability in predisposing constitutions increases 
wilh each successive parturition. The cause of its non-appearance 
in early life is attributable to the fact that, at this time, the system 
has not arrived at its full degree of growth and consolidation, 
which processes being consecutive with gestation, and of consider- 
ably more active character in the young than adult animal, there 
are, of necessity, greater demands or adaptations for an accumulating' 
quantity of blood than at a maturer age, in order to accomplish 
those indispensable processes of growth and development, thereby 
preventing the possibility of its injurious determination to one 
organ or tissue exclusively. The disease never follows abortion, 
which we can easily account for, on the ground of its non-appear- 
ance in bad milkers. 
There is a pretty certain preventive in milking the cow some 
time before calving — in full blood-letting before or immediately 
after — in purgatives — very limited diet — and in other depletive 
measures ; each and all tending to illustrate the necessity of a vas- 
cular state of the system for its development. 
Some eminent veterinary surgeons consider that constipation 
is, more frequently than any other, or indeed exclusively, the 
cause ; and in support of this, urge the apparently well-founded 
argument that, so soon as purgation can be established, the cow 
recovers. Although I am willing to admit that constipation may 
be an occasional cause, and that, at all times, it much aggravates the 
disease, I shall presently endeavour to prove that it is far oftener 
the almost infallible effect, depending upon a peculiar state induced 
by the disease, and devoid of those symptoms which would cha- 
racterise it if a primary cause. I have, indeed, seen many cases 
wherein a hardened state of fseces never existed ; but torpidity of 
the bowels or suspension of their usual action is always present. 
Very rarely does it occur after protracted cases of parturition, these 
