007 
FREE MARTEN. 
Mr. Young, of Tarves, has addressed to us a letter oil this 
subject. An opinion very commonly prevails, that when a cow 
produces two calves, one of them a bull, and the other a heifer- 
calf, the female will be incapable of propagation. Our opinion 
on this point has been expressed in the work on “ Cattle.” In 
the majority of cases the female is barren. The animal is, in 
fact, an hermaphrodite. Yet the female organs prevail ; and 
when they do so to a very considerable extent — when the devia- 
tion is exceedingly slight, or possibly there is no deviation at all 
— she will have all the propensities and capabilities of the 
female. 
Some authentic cases are related in page 539, in which the 
free-marten, or female twin, has bred as regularly as any cow. 
Mr. Young requests the opinion of experienced breeders on 
this subject, and so do we, or that of any of our veterinary 
brethren who have had opportunity to dissect a free-marten, or 
who have known any of them to breed. 
ON PUERPERAL FEVER. 
By a Veterinary Surgeon, 
After the many communications published in The Veteri- 
narian, and opinions expressed at the meetings of the Veteri- 
nary Association on the disease known by the unscientific 
though significant name of Dropping after Calving, it would be 
almost time to drop the subject, only that it appears no two that 
have, as yet, given their opinions are fully agreed as to its nature, 
cause, or proper means of treatment ; such being the case, 1 am 
bold enough to give mine, — that somewhat similar symptoms 
arise from different causes constituting widely different diseases, 
and therefore not to be treated upon any one plan which has 
been recommended ; but I dare say yourself and readers will 
not be so well pleased with any thing I can write in illustra- 
tion as with the following account of a case (as far as I recollect, 
different from all that you have published), in which the disease 
(with its characteristic symptoms and cause of paralysis) was 
fully developed in a few hours, and without the slightest affection 
of the uterus ; affording a very satisfactory, if not an altogether 
new view of the matter, and leaving no cause for wonder that 
such cases are generally fatal : — 
