448 
J. SCHMIDT. 
however, it has already gained admission to the vagina, then it 
can also readily pass through the partly-open os uteri into the 
uterus, since the colder air which has reached the vagina can 
readily displace the warmer air already in the uterus. 
So far as the hindrance of the passage of the air to the 
uterine cavity as a chief element in the genesis of a toxine is 
concerned, there must occur as a prelude to the disease a con¬ 
traction of the uterus during the first 24 hours so sudden and 
vigorous as to exclude all admission of air through the cervix 
uteri. Such contraction is not found to take place. 
When the afterbirth has not been expelled prior to the ad¬ 
vent of the disease, there always exists places between it and 
the uterine walls, where the atmospheric air cannot enter. It 
must be admitted according to the foundation of the Schmidt- 
Muhlheim theory, that such cases could afford an excellent 
opportunity for the development of ptomaines. If, however, 
importance is to be attached to this condition, then the disease 
should relatively occur far more frequently when the afterbirth 
is retained, than is found to be the case. In those animals, 
* where after the advent of the disease the afterbirth has been 
readily removed, the formation of toxines should cease owing 
to the admission of air during and after its removal, and the 
disease should thereupon decline. But this also seems not to 
be the rule. 
In two cases of calving-fever, in which the afterbirth had 
been expelled, and where, as usual after the outbreak of the 
disease, there was abundant opportunity for manual exploration 
of the uterus during the first 24 hours after birth, I caused in 
harmony with the ptomaine hypothesis, an abundant injection 
of atmospheric air. I secured control of both patients within 
a few hours from the beginning of the malady. But not the 
slightest favorable influence from the pumping in of the air 
could be observed at any time during the course of the disease; 
both cows died. 
In cows suffering from abortion at an early stage of preg¬ 
nancy, rapid and energetic contraction of the uterus is fre- 
