16 
ON CATTLE PRACTICE. 
used external stimulants on the spine or on the back, in all their 
varied forms ; also the internal use of strychrine, narcotics, pur- 
gatives combined with stimulants, in every kind of dose; bleed- 
ing, and abstaining from it ; and all equally unsuccessful. 
In the treatment of disease I have always been disposed to 
stick to the “ nil desperandum ” motto ; but in the paraplegia at- 
tendant on calving I am dead beat, and fairly give it up. I know 
that “ suspicion is at best but a coward’s virtue but I really do 
suspect at times that cases of the description on which I now 
write, and which are sometimes detailed in The Veterinarian, 
are rather the productions of the closet and of the imagination 
than faithful particulars of observations and facts ; or, perhaps, 
it would be more charitable to say, that the disease in question 
assumes a more malignant type in the south of Devon than 
elsewhere : but, Sir, 1 would really ride fifty miles to see half a 
dozen instances of true paraplegia consecutive on calving treated 
with success. I have a strong objection to the term “ puerperal 
fever it bears no analogy to the disease so termed in the human 
subject, the “synochus puerperorum” of Good, and therefore we 
are wrong in following the nomenclature of human medicine, 
when the disease and its progress are so dissimilar. I term this 
affection paraplegia , on account of its locality, the loss of volun- 
tary power being confined, in general instances, to the parts pos- 
terior to the head or neck, and on both sides of the body, differ- 
ing essentially from an interesting case of hemiplegia in a horse, 
which suffered paralysis on one side from compression on the 
lobe of the opposite side of the brain, the result of effused blood. 
I should wish to make a few remarks on the post-obit exami- 
nations I have made, but I have already spun out this paper to 
a length I had no idea of at its commencement ; I will, therefore, 
forbear, and simply state, that my own observations lead me to 
believe that it is chiefly an affection of the nervous system, 
whether primarily or not I leave to abler physiologists to decide. 
The brain and its continuation, the medulla oblongata, are af- 
fected : the latter frequently puts on the appearance of red 
velvet, and a softening in its structure, the result of inflamma- 
tory action. 
Permit me, Sir, in closing this communication, and as it may 
be some time ere I trouble you again with my lucubrations, to 
offer a few words on the straightforward business-like Oration of 
Mr. T. Turner. I believe it to be a faithful narration of the 
present state of the veterinary art, with sound observations on 
the best mode of protecting its interests and securing its ad- 
vancement. Mr. Turner appears to conceive, at no distant day, 
we shall realize the object of our wishes in the obtaining of a 
