259 
PUERPERAL FEVER, OR PARALYSIS, 
or a secondary cause : for in exact ratio to the mechanical 
pressure of the congested vessels on the origin of the nerves 
there is a loss of contractile force or power of propelling. In 
addition to this, there is always, at an early period of the disease 
at least, a partial deprivation of the mechanical means by which 
the blood in the venous system is chiefly circulated. In a word, 
it is congestion producing paralysis, and paralysis promoting 
congestion, until the voluntary motor, animal, and sentient 
nervous systems are utterly paralysed. It is in this way that I 
endeavour to account for those cases, too frequently occurring in 
my practice, and that so rapidly terminate in universal palsy. 
Whenever I am solicited to attend any case of disease, I am 
always anxious to ascertain the symptoms by which that disease 
was first manifested or recognized; and for this reason, because I 
consider that I have then a tolerable chance of tracing it to its 
origin; and when I can discover the fountain, I endeavour to dry 
it up, that the streams may subside. 
The symptoms that first shew the existence of puerperal fever 
I find to be, when the animal is lying down, an unwillingness to 
rise; and when standing, a constant shifting of the hind feet. 
When induced to move, she walks carefully and rather awk- 
wardly, evincing some degree of pain at every step she takes. 
These symptoms are often speedily succeeded by a sinking of the 
eye into its socket — an impairment of vision — a swaying motion 
of the posterior extremities — a pitiful moaning and a total cessation 
of the secretion of milk. At length she involuntarily falls, unable 
to rise again. She ceases to ruminate, and usually refuses both 
food and water. There is little or no excretion per anum, and 
very little urine voided, and that which is voided is generally 
high coloured. She throws her head back on her side, and ma- 
nifests a perfect disregard of surrounding objects. 
The disease now generally progresses in defiance of all that 
can be done to arrest it. Palsy rapidly steals through every 
nervous fibril, causing a deprivation of sensation and muscular 
contraction. A foreign substance may be drawn over the ball of 
the eye without the animal shewing the least degree of pain or 
inconvenience. Dung and urine, before death, are often voided 
involuntarily, and even enormous masses of decomposed food will 
sometimes be ejected from the stomach, especially if much pur- 
gative medicine has been given. This process is accompanied 
by an insufferable stench, and which is very soon succeeded by 
death. 
I imagine that no specific rule can be laid down for the treat- 
ment of either this or any other disease, but every system requires 
the exercise of the judgment, in order to regulate it according 
