666 
A CASE OF PUERPERAL FEVER. 
By Percival Smale, V.S., Leamington. 
September 18th, 1848. — I was called this evening to a 
young short-horn cow, which had calved on Wednesday, the 
16th; and on my arrival I was told that as she was found 
on the day succeeding parturition to be purging violently: 
they had given her two drinks, which had been obtained 
from a druggist, the composition of which they did not 
know* I found her labouring under inflammation of the 
mucous membrane of the intestines and vagina, with evident 
phlebitis of the vaginal veins. The faeces were loaded with 
mucus, portions of membrane, and clots of blood ; and a 
discharge also of mucus, tinged with blood, issued from the 
vagina. The pulse was 65, and the horns and ears and ex- 
tremities rather colder than natural* I gave a dose of opium, 
suspended in some mucilage of gum acacia, and threw up 
an enema of the same kind. I also further endeavoured to 
reduce the fever by administering the acetate of ammonia. 
The same treatment was continued during the next day; 
and on leaving her in the evening she appeared to be much 
better, the dysentery having yielded, and the faeces being 
of a normal character. Early the following morning the 
owner came for me, and said that the cow was very much 
worse* I found that a metastasis to the brain had now 
supervened. The cow was down and insensible, with loss of 
vision, &c* They told me she fell as if shot. A singular 
symptom w T as likewise present, that of constantly licking 
everything within her reach, and especially her fore leg, above 
the knee. To such extent was this carried that the part was 
denuded not only of the hair but even of the skin. It ap- 
peared to me that the impression on her brain was that her 
calf was present, and occupied, as it were, the place of her 
limb. I ordered cold water to be applied continuously to 
her head, and I gave 
Ext. Belladonnee, ^ss ; 
Liq. Ammon. Acet., §xij. 
This dose was likewise repeated at night 
On the next morning I found that although she was still 
down, she was comfortably ruminating, and, to all appear- 
ance, was convalescent. From this time, with the aid of 
slight aperients and vegetable tonics, she continued to im- 
prove, and soon recovered. 
