378 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PATHOLOGY AND 
above question the figures stand thus* : — Out of the 29, 3 of them 
were attacked at the 3d parturient period, 5 ditto at the 4th, 16 
ditto at the 5th, 2 ditto at the 6th, and 3 ditto at the 8th. 
It appears, then, from the above numbers, that cows are the most 
liable to puerperal fever at the 5th parturient period ; a fact which 
is noticed by Mr. Barlow in the Essay of his to which I have 
previously alluded. 
Secondly, At what period after the animal has calved does the 
disease generally supervene 1 With reference to this question, the 
29 cases stand thus : — 
5 
cows 
immediately 
after parturition 
8 
ditto 
in 20 hours 
after 
ditto 
5 
ditto 
in 23 ditto 
after 
ditto 
5 
ditto 
in 24 ditto 
after 
ditto 
3 
ditto 
in 30 ditto 
after 
ditto 
2 
ditto 
in 36 ditto 
after 
ditto 
1 
ditto 
in 72 ditto 
after 
ditto 
It appears, then, from the above, that after the 20th and 24th 
hours, the animal, comparatively speaking, may be considered 
as safe from the disease; and that after the 72d or 73d hour all 
danger may be considered as past beyond doubt. 
Thirdly, What is the average rate of mortality amongst cows 
attacked with this disease ? Out of the 29 cases, twelve I find 
recovered and seventeen died ; which loss is equivalent to some- 
where about 59 per cent: a loss which I am inclined to think is 
not so great as that of many other practitioners. 
Mr. Cartwright, Y.S. of Whitchurch, Salop, a man who I am 
sorry to say I am not personally acquainted with, but who I believe 
to be a most excellent practitioner with reference to this disease, 
states in The VETERINARIAN for May of the present year, that 
«* although I have seen at least a hundred cases, chiefly in this 
town, during the last twenty-five years, yet I am almost ashamed 
to confess that I cannot call to recollection that I ever cured a sin- 
gle case, nor have I heard of a case ever being cured by any of the 
quacks in the neighbourhood.” I cannot suppose, however, that 
Mr. Cartwright has been so unfortunate as he himself intimates. 
Matters of this nature ought never to be stated from mere memory. 
For it is a treacherous faculty, and frequently leads us far from 
the truth. 
Fourthly, What is the best method to pursue with cattle , in 
order , if possible, to PREVENT the disease ? This is a question 
which I hope to see amply discussed by veterinarians in the 
pages of this Journal. I have but little to offer respecting it my- 
* The cases I give in this contribution, of course, are included in the 
above number, except all such as Case 6, which are not included. 
