284 
A CASK OF PUERPERAL FEVER. 
at night occupying a large straw yard. I am likewise informed 
that at the three previous calvings — this being her fourth — no 
indication of any deviation from a state of health had been ob- 
served ; and that this foetus was smaller than her former ones, 
and was brought forth, without any unusual difficulty, about 
eleven o’clock a.m. on the 14th instant. 
During the remaining part of that day, and until seven 
o’clock on the following morning, no appearance of ill health was 
observed, she continuing to eat, and ruminating, &c. Her diet 
consisted of hay, bran-mashes, and gruel. 
Almost immediately after partaking of a portion of the latter, 
she was observed, in attempting to turn towards the calf, to 
have partially lost the voluntary power over the muscles of the 
hind quarters. This was at first attributed to weakness, and 
more gruel was therefore administered ; but, shortly afterwards, 
when again attempting to move, she staggered, and fell violently 
forward. The owner then becoming alarmed, requested Mr. 
Simonds’ attendance. 
On arriving at the cow-house, she lying on the ground unable to 
rise, we immediately recognised the symptoms that accompany 
puerperal fever. The pulse was upwards of 70, but not of such 
a character as to warrant the abstraction of blood ; the respiration 
was laboured and difficult; the appetite lost, and rumination en- 
tirely suspended ; the extremities, and in fact the whole surface of 
the body, was cold, and the bowels torpid, with suspension of the 
secretions and excretions. There was a peculiar champing of 
the lower jaw, similar to its action in rumination, accompanied 
by a discharge of frothy saliva ; and there were occasional eructa- 
tions of gas from the stomachs, although little hove was present. 
She was perfectly sensible, but, at times, uttered a suppressed 
moan indicative of her sufferings. After several ineffectual 
efforts, she succeeded in rising ; but no sooner was it accomplished 
than she again staggered and fell. 
Treatment . — A powerful purgative, combined with a diffusible 
stimulant, was immediately administered. A stimulating embro- 
cation, with friction, was also applied to the whole course of the 
vertebrae, in order to restore the circulation through the vessels of 
the skin, and an enema was injected for the purpose of removing 
what faeces might be lodged in the rectum. 
Mr. Simonds being compelled to attend to other professional 
engagements, I remained some time with the patient without 
perceiving any farther excitement in the system ; the pulse still 
remaining about 70 in number, and without alteration in cha- 
racter. In this state she was left, with directions to be kept per- 
fectly quiet, and she was so packed with straw that she might lie 
