526 SYNOPSIS OF CONTINENTAL VETERINARY JOURNALS. 
which parturition has been rapid and free from compli¬ 
cations. 
“ (2) These latter conditions not being met with exclu¬ 
sively in stabled animals, but also exerting their combined 
effects on others, we may conclude that permanent housing 
has more influence than the constitution of the animal—is 
the main factor in the development of vitulary fever. 
“ (3) To explain the predisposition which results from 
this, and the encephalic congestion, it is necessary also to 
associate plethora, the often sudden cooling of the skin, and 
especially, and most frequently, the too sudden cessation of 
the compression of the heart which results from the ex¬ 
cessive development of the abdominal contents towards the 
latter stages of gestation. This is a direct consequence of 
prompt delivery. Under that new influence the cavities of 
the heart dilate and throw a stronger wave, whence results 
a general congestion, which affects the brain more markedly 
than other organs, because of the delicacy of its organisation 
and of its functions. 
“ (4) We consider as a rapid delivery not only the prompt 
expulsion of the calf, but the expulsion in a short time of all 
the products of the ovum ,* first the calf, then the various 
fluids, and finally the membranes forming the after-birth 
come away very soon. The expulsion in the inverse order 
of the calf and the fluids, the retention of the placenta for 
some hours, constitute conditions much more favorable; for 
the escape of liquids having taken place, the uterus must con¬ 
tract on itself before usefully exerting its action on the foetus, 
and also after delivery the after-birth for some time supports 
the uterus. The diminution of intra-abdominal pressure 
thus occurs gradually, which allows all the organs, the 
heart in particular, to adapt themselves to the new state of 
affairs. 
“ (5) In those females with ordinarily simple gestation, 
mares and ewes, for instance, who are liable to no equiva¬ 
lent of vitulary fever, it may be as has just been described, 
but the predisposition is not present, for these animals are 
not kept unexercised as are cows. Besides enjoying this 
advantage, small females hear more than one foetus, and this 
is favorable to them as leading to gradual parturition. 
(6) Vitulary fever may affect cows before parturition, as 
well as within a certain time afterwards. It then presents 
the ordinary symptoms. 
<f (7) Its sudden invasion, its rapid progress, its prompt 
terminations, the lesions which it leaves, the circumstances 
under which it develops, the prophylactic means successfully 
