54 REVIEW— COMPENDIUM OF CATTLE MEDICINE. 
There is no disease affecting cattle which has been involved 
in so much apparent mystery as this, and none which has eli- 
cited such various and contradictory opinions. Its very name 
is calculated to mislead, and to induce the supposition that it is 
the same as the puerperal fever of women after child-birth ; 
whereas, in point of fact, it is a peculiar disease affecting cows 
alone. Considerable attention has, however, of late been bestowed 
on it by veterinary surgeons ; and if we have not yet attained 
that insight into its nature and causes that we could wish, we 
have yet very greatly improved and extended our knowledge and 
acquaintance with the matter, it used to be supposed that the 
uterus or womb was the principal seat of the disease; but it has 
now been ascertained that this organ is not affected in one case 
out' of ten. To Mr. Friend, of Walsall, we are principally in- 
debted for directing our attention to the brain and nervous sys- 
tem ; and it has since been placed beyond doubt, by the researches 
of other practitioners, that these organs are the principal seats of 
the disease. There are, however two varieties ; one exceedingly 
dangerous, the other comparatively attended with little danger; 
and this accounts for the different opinions that are given as to 
the fatality of the disease. In the severer description, the brain as 
well as the spine is involved ; in the milder form, the lesions ap- 
pear confined to the region of the loins. Cows rarely become 
affected with this disease until they have had several calves, and 
the short-horn breed is more liable to it than others. 
“ The first symptom,” observes Mr. Simonds, “ in the severer 
affection, is a staggering gait; the respiration soon becomes dis- 
turbed ; the eyes appear prominent and glassy, and the pupils 
greatly dilated. After reeling about for awhile, the animal falls 
— often to rise no more. The head is turned to the side, and the 
animal becomes unconscious. Liquids, if given with the horn, 
frequently enter the larynx without producing coughing or irrita- 
bility ; the nerves of sensation appear to have lost their power ; 
the animal often loses the power of motion in the fore extremities 
as well as the hind, and sensation, too, is occasionally lost, with 
or without the power of motion.” Sometimes the animal lies in 
a comatose state; at others, it exhibits great pain and distress. 
The disease may destroy life in a few hours; and if the ani- 
mal dies, it is generally within forty-eight hours from the com- 
mencement of the attack The pulse is generally much quick- 
ened, being from 70 to 80 in a minute, but soon becomes very 
weak. The appetite is, 'of course, totally lost ; rumination sus- 
pended ; and there is generally fatal constipation. It must be 
confessed, that the majority of cases of this severe affection prove 
fatal ; and, on examination of the body after death, the princi- 
