Pierre de Sales Laterrière

“ When the fever has continued a few days, the symptoms of inflammation usually subside, and the disease takes a putrid form; a bilious or putrid diarrhœa supervenes, the stools become involuntary, and the patient dies.
Although this disorder begins sometimes like a regular fever, and at others shows symptoms of genuine inflammation; yet it seems to differ from both, and exhibits those symptoms of irritation, with sudden depression of strength, quick and low pulse, dizziness, glazy eyes, and that species of delirium which denote a diminished energy of the brain ”

“ However ignorant we may be of the nature of the puerperal fever, of this we are certain, that the female system is in such a state, on delivery, that errors in either of these respects are apt to produce the disease; too much heat will cause it full as often as too much cold.
That particular state or predisposition of their bodies, must be inquired into, before we can throughly understand this disorder. ”

“ The circumstances affecting the system in general, are,—Distension of the fibres of the uterus, which, from an extensive sympathy of parts with this organ, must necessarily increase the irritability of the nervous system:—From an accumulation of putrid matter in the intestines, an absorption of putrescent juices:—The collection of bile in the receptacles of the liver, which, by stagnating, will be exposed to the absorption of it's thinner and most diluting parts, and which will be the means of inducing constipation:—Debility through the want of a nutritious, cooling fluid in the blood. ”

“ Hulme differs from both these respectable physicians, says it is owing to an inflammation of the omentum and intestines, and maintains his argument by a variety of dissections; and the celebrated Dr. John Hunter is so far of this opinion, that he thinks it is possible even for men to have a disorder like it, and says that he has known similar appearances in the omentum and intestines of men, whose abdomens have been distended by dropsy.
Dr. Hulme readily admits, that unwholesome air, and bad diet, may powerfully operate in causing the disease. ”

“ I shall say a few words for the information of those who may wonder to see a person of my age engaging in the study of Physic. The occasion of it is this;—Canada, like most provinces at a great distance from the mother country, has become very deficient in medical knowledge. Not only the most approved English authors are unknown to most of us, but even the late French writers on physic and surgery are scarcely seen among us. ”

“ There is much thirst, pain in the head, chiefly in the parts about the eye-brows, a flushing in the face, anxiety, a hot, dry skin, quick and weak pulse, though sometimes it will resist the finger strongly, accompanied with other signs of inflammation ”

“ A combination of these causes with certain peculiarities of the habit may heighthen the predisposition.
The causes dependent on parturition itself are,
Irritation upon the uterus. Accelerated circulation, and increased heat. Sanguineous evacuation. Suspension of the requisite discharges. The first of these may very readily be conceived as exciting disease, by means of the sympathy of parts with the uterus; and it will conspire with the already increased irritability. ”

“ The lochia, he observes, were not, from first to last, obstructed, nor deficient in quantity, neither did the quality of the discharge seem to be altered from its natural state; and what is remarkable, a considerable pressure above the pubes did not occasion pain, while the same degree of pressure between the stomach and umbilical region produced a pain almost intolerable; and in them that died, he says the omentum was found suppurated ”