PARTURIENT FEVER. 
703 
and lochia were so foul that it was a task to remove them. This 
instance may substantiate the “anaerobic theory,” but it does 
not that of septicaemia. And, again, why is it that a majority 
of the cases will be found out in the lot with clean surroundings, 
and everything seeming all right, where there was no assistance 
required in delivery. Therefore, this disease differs materially 
from puerperal septicaemia in the human family, and the etiology 
given by Dr. Edward Reynolds, M. D., Fellow of the American 
Gynaecological Society, and President of the Obstetric Society of 
Boston, who says that “ it is a matter of common knowledge 
that the usual source of infection is through defect, cleanliness 
of the hands, instruments of the accoucheur, or nurse, one or the 
other of whom almost always can be held responsible for the dis- 
And much more so does it differ from the recent theorv 
ease 
of Schmidt, the etiology of which is not acceptable, even by 
those who concur in his theraphy, which appears so success¬ 
ful. However, the success of his treatment is not sufficient 
proof of the true cause of the disease, inasmuch as the remedy 
from its physiological action is equally an indicant in the ante- 
ceding etiology, as is his (Schmidt’s) ; and whether he has dis¬ 
covered a specific or a more effective modus operandi of admin¬ 
istering the drug in this peculiar disease, I am unprepared to 
state ; perhaps both, but I am inclined to believe the latter. 
Referring to his etiology, i- <?., of a suddenly increased 
lactation after birth, loosens large masses of glandular cells, or 
colostrum, and these undergo a decomposition and form toxines, 
and being absorbed into the circulation, result in auto-intoxica¬ 
tion. 
Inasmuch as I believe in auto-intoxication, I cannot accept 
the theory as arising solely from the udder, for the following 
reasons, viz.: Why should not an animal be just as susceptible 
before birth as after? And if an animal be milked, say a week 
or ten days previous to birth, this condition should have been 
thrown off, and good milkers in poor flesh would be just as 
likely to have the disease, owing to the fact that there would be 
just as much colostrum as in the fleshy animal, and animals 
