PROGRESS OP VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ART. 455 
Bering still holds to a form of inflammatory vitulary fever, 
the essential feature of which is metritis, and considers there 
are two forms of dropping after calving, the inflammatory 
and paralytic. Most men separate the former now-a-days, 
and consider it quite distinctly. Simonds and Rainard are 
both for this. Rainard, however, describes two forms of 
vitulary fever. The one discussed above, and which we 
understand to be parturient apoplexy, and another which is 
in reality parturient apoplexy, only not limited to the nervous 
centres, but pervading the other viscera of the body, and 
associated with carbuncles. This, Rainard holds to be a 
blood affection, partaking of most of the characters of vitulary 
fever. Indeed, it is allied to that class of diseases called 
carbuncular, by veterinary writers on the Continent, which I 
have observed here as well as there, and on which I shall, 
when an opportunity offers itself, discant at length. 
To sum up, then, we may say that several diseases have 
been observed after calving bearing certain, if not all cha- 
racters in common. They are, firstly, true paralysis, the 
organic lesions of which are unknown, if any exist. Secondly, 
parturient apoplexy, confined to the nervous centres. Thirdly, 
parturient apoplexy, associated with congestion of the viscera 
generally, and with the so-called carbuncles. Fourthly, a 
fever of a putrid type. Fifthly, a distinct disease, metro- 
peritonitis or inflammation of the womb and peritoneum, 
I think I have brought the matter pretty well up to the 
knowledge of the present day. It remains for future investi- 
gators, and we need expert pathological anatomists, to clear 
the mystery in which this interesting subject is involved. 
Certain it is, that those authors above quoted, who insist 
upon attributing to all cases of this disease the anatomical 
characters which they have observed in a comparatively few, 
incur the danger which always attends too rapid generaliza- 
tion. This would be a matter of comparatively little 
practical importance if the theoretical opinions as to the 
pathology of the disease were not made the basis of its 
treatment. These are essentially experimental matters, and 
it is much to be desired, that all who have opportunities will 
observe with rigorous fidelity, note down with equal ac- 
curacy, and publish without prejudice, facts illustrating the 
pathology and treatment of this important malady.) 
16, Upper Woburn Place ; 
July , 1855. 
