ON RED-WATER IN CATTLE. 
89 
carefully kept from cold, have tepid water for drink, and are liberally 
fed ; but that food requires to be easily digested, and all food that 
contains elements of a stimulating or heating nature must be with- 
held. The same circumstances, in a lesser degree, affect cattle in 
the season when there is such demand on the system. With food 
possessed of less nutrition than common, and, moreover, of an indi- 
gestible, hot, and stimulating character, can we wonder that the 
animal is liable to be seriously affected by the first exciting cause 
that circumstances may present ? There are, I apprehend, few 
causes of greater excitement than parturition. At that period, or 
during that process, the whole animal economy suffers and sympa- 
thizes together. That portion of the blood which, during preg- 
nancy, was required for the development of the foetus, is now to be 
directed to the mammse for the purpose of producing milk. This, 
of itself, forms a check or some sort of revulsion on the circu- 
lation. 
Again ; the connexion between the mother and foetus is main- 
tained by the formation of certain glandular bodies on the interior 
surface of the uterus and corresponding glands or absorbents on the 
exterior surface of the chorion or placenta. The uterine glands 
have on their surface numerous depressions or indentations. The 
corresponding glands of the foetal portion of the chorion are fur- 
nished with a papillous surface, the singular processes of which 
are inserted into the uterine depressions, thus establishing the inti- 
mate connexion that exists between the mother and foetus — the ute- 
rine glands acting the part of secernents and the foetal portion per- 
forming the part of absorbents. On delivery the foetal portions ge- 
nerally come off as part of the placenta, while the uterine portions 
remain, and discharge by secretion, for a short time after partu- 
rition, a dark-coloured semi-putrid fluid. We often find these 
glands preternaturally enlarged. In that case, more especially if 
the animal is in a weakly state, they throw off a morbid secretion 
that becomes putrid, part of which is re-absorbed and passes 
into the circulation. The uterus, from its organization, shews at 
once its uncommon power of absorption. Its vessels are both nume- 
rous and large. It is supplied from two sources, the spermatic and 
hypogastric arteries. The veins that return the blood from the 
uterus into the vena cava are correspondingly large, and, under the 
impregnated state, they are very much increased in size; it is 
also in every place abundantly supplied with lymphatics. 
Physiologists are not agreed whether it is the lymphatics or veins 
that act the part of absorbents; Majendie insisting on the latter, and 
furnishing pretty strong proof in support of his theory, while others 
view the former as the principal organs concerned. In the healthy 
state of the uterus it seems plain that both are concerned in the per- 
