70 PUERPERAL MANIA PUFENDORF rent. The delirium of labor is caused by the over-excited or erethistic condition of the brain in consequence of the intensity of the pains of labor. It is of much rarer occurrence since the use of anaesthetics in labor than formerly. Puerperal mania generally conies on during the first two weeks after confinement, while melancholia is rarely developed until the latter part of the month. Among other prominent premonitory symptoms are sleeplessness, lo- quaciousness, and aversion toward friends ; and a short period before the attack there are often movements of the eyelids and facial muscles. At the moment of attack the facial expression is often peculiar, the features becoming drawn and pallid, with an expression of fright mingled more or less with that of rage. The patient then becomes boisterous, stares wildly and makes rapid gestures, clutches at things 'and persons near her, throws off her covering, and attempts to jump out of bed ; and her language will often bo so profane as to mortify her friends. The skin is cold, pallid, and clammy, and the pulse is small, quick, and irritable. There is great muscular weakness, which how- ever sometimes alternates with great spasmodic strength. Among the predisposing causes he- redity is the most frequent, and it is said to be generally traceable to the female side of the family. The pathological condition of the brain is therefore similar to that of insanity in general, but this cannot always be demonstra- ted by microscopical examination. The prin- cipal exciting cause is mental emotion, and it has been observed that those who possess the most sensitive organizations and have been particularly the victims of treachery are much more likely than others to be attacked. For- merly it was frequently held that the disease was of inflammatory origin, being a modifica- tion of phrenitis ; but the opinion advanced by Gooch, that " it is not a disease of congestion or inflammation," has been sustained by mod- ern experience. Dr. Ferriar believes that the loss of reason is often principally due to some interference with the establishment of lacta- tion. Convulsions which occur after labor are frequently followed by mania. It seems to bo well established that there is an essential con- nection between puerperal mania and albnmi- nuria ; but the indications of the presence of albumen are less persistent than in convulsions. Bleeding, which was once a common prac- tice, is now regarded as injurious in all but a very few exceptional cases, as the disease is nearly always associated with an anaemic con- dition of the blood and a state of nervous ex- haustion. The best therapeutic agent for re- lieving the cerebral excitement is perhaps the hydrate of chloral, and it is said to have a much better effect than pure chloroform. The most important remedial treatment, however, is the use of nutritious food to restore the ex- hausted nervous energy by reestablishing the organic functions. Ferruginous tonics may also be given with advantage. PUERTO BELLO. See PORTO BKLLO. PFERTO CABALLOS. See CORTES. PUERTO CABELLO, a seaport town of Vene- zuela, in the province of Carabobo, on Triste bay, 70 m. W. of Caracas; pop. about 8,000. The town is principally on an island, which is connected with the mainland by a bridge. The climate is hot and unhealthy, but the har- bor being fine, the place is the seat of a con- siderable trade. During the year ending Sept. 80, 1873, the total value of the imports was $3,691,287; of the exports, $5,118,788; en- trances, 205 vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of 103,476, of which 50 were German, 38 Eng- lish, 82 Dutch, 27 Venezuelan, 19 Spanish, 18 French, 12 Danish, 10 American, 2 Austrian, and 2 Italian. The principal exports are cot- ton, coffee, cacao, indigo, sugar, cocoanuts, hides, lumber, and cabinet and dye woods. Of 20,011,801 Ibs. of coffee exported in Ib73, 6,212,890 came to the United States. PUERTO Li MAR. See COBIJA. PUERTO PLATA, or Porto Plata, a seaport town of Santo Domingo, on the N. coast, 100 m. N. N. W. of Santo Domingo city; pop. about 8,000. It lies on the slope of a mountain at the foot of a crescent-shaped bay. The harbor has good anchorage, but shallows rapidly near the shore, and ships are loaded from lighters. The trade, principally in tobacco, is in the hands of foreign merchants, mostly Germans. In 1873, 201 vessels, of 12,191 tons, entered the port; of these 75 were English, 87 Spanish, 84 German, and 20 American. The total uiluu of the imports in 1873 was $871,116; of the exports, $1,093,753. Puerto Plata is said to have been planned by Columbus on his first voyage. In the beginning of the 16th cen- tury it was largely resorted to by Spanish vessels. It has been destroyed several times, the last time by the Spaniards when they evacuated the island in 1865. PUERTO PRIM II'K. Santa Maria de, a city of Cuba, capital of the Central department, about midway between the N. and S. coasts, 805 m. E. 8. E. of Havana, and 45 m. W. 8. W. of Nue- vitas, its port, with which it is connected by railway ; pop. about 80,000. It lies between two small streams, the Tinima and the Jati- bonico, in a rich agricultural district, the chief products of which are sugar and tobacco. The climate is hot, moist, and unhealthy. The city is irregularly built. Its chief buildings are sev- eral churches and monasteries, a hospital, and two theatres. Its trade is inconsiderable com- pared with its population. Puerto Principe was formerly the seat of the supreme court of all the Spanish colonies in America. It has been threatened several times during the pres- ent war by the Cuban patriots, and two or three battles have taken place in its vicinity. PUFEXDORF (often spelled PTJFFENDORF by English writers), Samuel, a German jurist and publicist, born near Chemnitz, Saxony, Jan. 8, 1632, died in Berlin, Oct. 26, 1694. He was edu- cated at Grimma, studied theology at the uni-
