Puerperal Temperatures

It is highly probable that many cases of puerperal temperature which have been reported as those of auto-intoxication are in reality unrecognized infections from germ invasion. In puerperal disorders one must bear in mind the very considerable traumatism which invariably accompanies the parturient process. The researches of His and of Winter have shown that the vagina and os uteri are always the seat of a great variety of bacteria, non-pathogenetic to be sure, but capable of causing inflammation if admitted to the circulation through wounds. And if an infection occurs it is quite certain to cause elevation of temperature which is high and enduring if the virus is toxic, or if the bacteria are admitted in large numbers, - slight and evanescent if the battle between the bacteria and the leucocytes is a short one. A puerperal temperature which promptly disappears upon the administration of a laxative may very properly be attributed to constipation and consequent mild grade of autointoxication, but if this temperature with its concomitant symptoms continues there is frequently another cause. In five obscure cases of puerperal temperature of the writer's, further study showed the malarial plasmodium in one, internal laceration in two, a small pneumonic percussion area in one, and an ulcerating varicose vein in one.

Paralyses

Aldrich (28) attributes cases of gestational and puerperal paralyses to neuritis, which may be the result of auto-intoxication from poisons formed by the disturbed ratio between production and elimination.