PUERPERAL FEVER

A fever attended by peritoneal inflammation, which comes on about the third day alter delivery. The usual febrile symptoms are attended with great tensene and tenderne of the abdomen; the milk disappears, and the bowels are usually affected by diarrhoea. It is most common in the autumn, and appears to be contagious.Itis an alarming disease, and requires great promptitude and judgment in its treatment. Bleeding, modified according to the circumstances of the case, purging with calomel, saline sudorifics, and occasionally opium, to quiet pain and induce rest, are among the remedial means; but it often happens that great irritability of the stomach and bowels, or even ince ant purging and vomiting, are predominant symptoms, and the fever a umes a typhoid character, in which case the system requires support from cordials. [s. 1015]