PUERPERAL OR MILK FEVER IN CATTLE. 
149 
it must be for the purpose of giving each some sort of influence 
over the other, or to blend and mingle the whole in one harmo- 
nious action for some important and extra functions. This is 
shewn, as I before have stated, in the labour-pains necessary 
for the expulsion of the foetus. And I conceive it is no illogical 
deduction to suppose that the abstraction of stimuli in disease 
may operate in the same mingled and blended manner; and this 
will at once account for the paralyzed state in which we find the 
cow in puerperal fever. 
Besides anastomosing throughout the animal frame with 
voluntary nerves, for the purpose of concentrating their united 
powers for extra and important purposes, such as those just 
named, I have no doubt that the organic nerves have the same 
action in every part of the animal economy that I hinted at in 
my remarks on the countenance : that they positively act as 
mentors to the voluntary nerves, preventing them from capri- 
ciously over-acting their parts; preserving the relative situation 
of the muscles under all circumstances ; apportioning the de- 
gree of force necessary to be exerted by every individual muscle 
in any purpose of life requiring the combined influence of more 
than one; and maintaining the beautiful form and contour which 
the muscles exhibit in a state of health, for I have no idea that 
there is such a thing as perfect repose in muscular fibre in life. 
That the organic nerves are capable of such unvarying and 
never-ceasing action, is proved by the influence they exert over 
the organs of digestion, secretion, &c., which never stand still, 
and never tire. 
Again; there is no time in the life of the animal when the 
sensitive nerves are called upon to suffer more, or the motor ones 
are roused to greater action, than in this one of parturition ; 
and it is not an every-day action or suffering ; — it is an extra, an 
uncommon one. It cannot therefore be considered wonderful, 
that, during this excess of action and suffering, some functional 
derangement should occasionally occur. 
Lastly, I have seen this disease occurring at all seasons of 
the year, in all grades of condition, and under every system of 
treatment ; and this, while it militates strongly against the 
various reasons which have hitherto been assigned as the cause 
of it, adds a further claim to that which I have advanced ; for 
there are no adventitious circumstances connected with parturi- 
tion in which it may not take place. 
I have now presented you with a rude and imperfect sketch 
of some of the reasons which induced me to adopt the opinions 
which I now entertain of puerperal fever in cows. 
Being a subject of considerable importance in the pathology 
