ON PUKllPEllAL FEVER IN COWS. 
401 
the exception of one which I shall notice at greater length), as to 
neutralize their value entirely, and prevent the possibility of any 
one being received as standard. But there is another thing 
which militates still more strongly against one and all of these 
opinions than the simple circumstance of their being contradic¬ 
tory,—it is the stubborn fact, that it is not a sweeping disease. 
Out of great numbers constantly exposed to any of the causes 
abovenamed, few are its victims. A farmer generally calves a 
great many cows for one that has puerperal fever; and I believe 
that this number may be much decreased by an attention to 
what I have hereafter to recommend. 
Plethora is the favourite cause assigned; but I am quite con¬ 
vinced that it has nothing whatever to do with the disease origin¬ 
ally. At the crisis, indeed, it has much to do with it, disposing 
to inflammatory action of vital parts—adding to the weight to be 
sustained without a proportionate increase of muscular strength— 
loading and impeding the action of the muscles themselves, and 
renderinor the nerves of motion still more obtuse. Out of seven 
cases that have occurred in my own practice during the last few 
months only one was at all in a high state of condition, and this 
case recovered the most readily of all; and I think a very good 
reason may be assigned for it. Look at the excellent remarks 
made by Mr. Staveley. In speaking of two different places in 
which he had practised, where he saw a good deal of this dis¬ 
ease, he tells us that the cows were larger, heavier, and in better 
condition at Bradford than at Garstang; and yet the disease 
shewed itself in its mildest form at Bradford, and was more ma¬ 
nageable. Now for the reason :—It is well known that cows have 
a great dread of falling under these circumstances, most probably 
from being aware of their succeeding inability to rise. There 
would be less natural power in the fat heavy cow to resist this; 
and I have no doubt that many cases of this kind that terminate 
favourably, do so simply from their being detected (from this 
cause) at an earlier stage of this peculiar disease of the nervous 
system. The first intimation that the veterinary surgeon usually 
receives is after the cow is helplessly down—at least such has 
been the case in my practice. It has been with me a very rare 
occurrence, ever to have been called in previous to this. If, 
then, owing to the circumstances just mentioned, we receive 
a few hours’ earlier notice than we otherwise should do, we train 
a great deal; and though this very state of heaviness and ])le- 
thora may and does induce to inflammation, yet this will not 
carry them off half so rayjidly as the disease of the nervous 
system. 
Look at the first case, [)aiticularly, recoided l»y Vctcrinarius, as 
