SYNOPSIS OF CONTINENTAL VETERINARY JOURNALS. 407 
M. Bouley's chronique of the 15th April, 1879, deals 
extensively with the subject of puerperal fever in its relations 
to parasitic organisms. His remarks are based upon a com¬ 
munication made by a M. Hervieux to the Academy of 
Medicine, on the 11th March of the present year. Treating 
of septicaemia puerperalis, this gentleman concluded “ that 
the lowest known organisms, viberios, bacteria, rods, moving- 
bodies, are powerless to explain the disease.” He hesitates 
to accept the interpretation of a large number of pathological 
phenomena by the intervention of atmospheric germs, 
because it fails to accord with clinical observations. Thus, 
if the accidents of childbirth are absolutely dependent upon 
the action of external germs everywhere diffused through the 
atmosphere, why do they not affect all subjects alike? Why 
do these germs appear especially active in lying-in hospitals, 
where puerperal fever rages with intensity, whilst, at the 
same time, in spite often of miserable surrounding condi¬ 
tions in the same town, others, at childbirth, escape their 
effects ? If the vibrios threaten all existence, and, conse¬ 
quently, that of lying-in women, at all times and in all 
places, why do they succeed in affecting such only at certain 
times and in particular places ? Because (says M. Hervieux) 
it may well be that Bacteria have nothing to do with the 
production of puerperal septicsemia, and the part assigned to 
them is really performed by that unknown agent which we 
term “ miasma,” and whose physical characteristics have 
hitherto baffled the investigations of the most learned 
savants. How, by means of the germ theory, can we explain 
that the patients resist puerperal septicaemia, whilst thousands 
of vibrios abound in their lochia , which are foetid in excess, 
whilst others, with the lochial discharge suppressed or scanty, 
succumb rapidly from septicaemia ? Also, how can we 
reconcile with this doctrine the fact that in lying-in hospitals 
puerperal epidemics seem to rage with a lamentable pre¬ 
ference among the youngest, most robust, beautiful, and 
healthy ? Also, during an epidemic, not only accoucheuses 
become affected, but also pregnant women, or those who 
have recently given birth, nurses, and midwives, superin¬ 
tendents, and even doctors may contract it. By what entry, 
according to the theory, in this last case could the vibrios 
essential to the production of the disease gain entry into the 
system ? Puerperal miasma capable of penetrating epithelial 
surfaces can explain these facts, which would remain incom¬ 
prehensible, on the theory of atmospheric germs such as could 
obtain entry into the system only by disorganisation of tissue. 
Such was M. Hervieux’s argument, before answering, whilst 
