THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XII, No. 141.] SEPTEMBER 1839. [New Series, No. 81. 
CASES OF RED-WATER, PUERPERAL FEVER, AND RUP- 
TURE OF GASTROCNEMIUS EXTERNUS MUSCLE. 
By JOHN Tombs, Esq., Per shore, late Bengal Artillery. 
I PROMISED to send to you some more cases of red-water in cat- 
tle. All those that I have witnessed since my last communication 
presented the same symptoms, and yielded to the same mode of treat- 
ment, therefore I thought it useless to trouble you with them ; but, 
in order to confirm my declared opinion then as to the seat of the 
disease, I now send you the appearances of a case after death, prov- 
ing beyond doubt that the primary and principal organs affected 
are the stomachs and liver, and more particularly the latter organ. 
Anew era now promises to dawn on veterinary science, viz. the 
communication of instruction on the diseases of horned cattle, &c., 
at the Veterinary College. Every student who intends to embark 
in country practice ought to feel grateful to the zealous and un- 
wearied advocates of that noble improvement in the education of the 
pupil. It is absurd for a practitioner to expect to do well who is not 
perfectly competent to treat the several diseases to which almost all 
our domesticated animals are liable. The proprietors of stock are 
becoming more and more in the habit of invariably sending for 
veterinary surgeons to attend on all kinds of sick animals, never 
for a moment doubting that their professional education eminently 
qualifies them for that task; but a tale could have been told that 
would have sadly undeceived them. I am truly rejoiced that 
those palmy days of ignorance in regard to cattle knowledge have 
vanished. 
I am, dear Sir, 
Your's very truly, 
J. Tombs. 
On the 6th of July, I was requested to attend a cow with the 
red-water, in this neighbourhood. 1 found her in a dangerous 
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