ON PUERPERAL FEVER IN COWS. 
403 
I must throw myself upon the indulgence of your readers. Hav¬ 
ing previously written a good deal on this subject, I find it diffi¬ 
cult to say all I wish to do on this occasion with a chance of inter¬ 
esting them; but I have thought it necessary distinctly to state, 
and to endeavour briefly to prove from the cases of Veterinarius 
himself, what I consider the origin and effects of this disease, in 
order that I may shew a reason for the practice I shall recom¬ 
mend in answer to his queries. It will be quite clear to him, then, 
that 1 consider the cause is disease of the nervous system— 
the effect, loss of power in the muscular system : and he will find 
that 1 have precisely the same opinion of the difficulties we have 
to contend with in these extreme cases which he has. He speaks 
with surprise (and I join him in the same expression) of the 
great nonchalance with which some gentlemen in the course of 
debate recommend you to empty the stomachs and intestines with 
common physic. Every time they meet with cases like those 
described by him they will find the utter inefficiency of this mode 
of treatment. 
The practice which I recommend is, to employ very strong coun¬ 
ter-irritants in order to combat with the cause, and to administer 
powerful stimulants and purgatives to counteract the effects. And 
when we recollect what can be effected, even after a cessation of 
life, on the nerves, and through them on the muscular system (as 
by the application of galvanism,and the means resorted to in order 
to restore drowned persons, &c.), surely we may conclude that 
this is a reasonable mode of treatment. Now, let me be perfectly 
understood as to my opinion of stimulants, as applied to the cow 
when in this state. As to two or three drachms of ginger and gen¬ 
tian, I consider these as next to no stimulants at all, and not a 
greater quantity than ought to be given with every common dose 
of physic to preserve the tone of the stomachs. 1 employ can- 
tharides and carbonate of ammonia directly for this purpose, and 
spts. tereb. and geth. nit. as adjuvants, and also to act power¬ 
fully upon the kidneys. I now usually give for the first dose 
sulph. mag. tfei, pulv. sem. croton 3ii,pulv. canth. twenty grains, 
carbonate of ammonia 5 i, ginger and gentian, aa ^i. I afterwards 
give the same sort of purgative medicines, in quantities according 
to the case, every three hours till an effect is produced ; with the 
addition, after the first dose, to the purgatives, of fifteen grains 
canth., 5 i carb. ammon., and ginger and gentian aa ^iv, instead of 
the quantities first prescribed. Between these times I occasionally 
give spts. tereb. and aeth.nit. aa ^ii, and ant. tart, ^i, in sweetened 
gruel. This is the internal treatment, with occasional variations 
which can scarcely be detailed. As an external stimulant, I em¬ 
ploy strong liquid blister, made more powerful by the addition 
