VETERINARY MEDICINE. 185 



Parturient paresis (milk fever) and eclampsia; nnd the internal secretion 

 of the mammae as a factor in the onset of labor {Kentucky Sta. Bui. 160, 

 pp. 83-10',, pis. 9; Jour. Infect. Diseases, 10 {1912), No. 2, pp. 226-232, 233-243, 

 244-247, figs. JS).— This bulletin consists of 3 papers. 



Parturient paresis {milk fever), and eclampsia; similarities hctween these 

 two diseases, D. J. Healj' and J. H. Kastle (pp. 83-90). — In this first paper the 

 symptoms of parturient paresis and eclampsia are discussed and the similari- 

 ties between the 2 diseases pointed out. A normal clinical urinalysis, based 

 upon 100 urinalyses of the dairy cow covering a period of 3 winter and 3 sum- 

 mer months, is described, together with the urinalyses of 3 oases of parturient 

 paresis. Since none of the 3 cases observed during the year succumbed, the 

 finer pathological changes occurring in parturient paresis have not been 

 established. 



The theories of the cause of the 2 diseases are next discussed. " That the 

 disease is due to a toxin elaborated in the udder, as the result of its own 

 metabolism preceding normal milk production, there can be no reasonable doubt, 

 and that the success of the modern treatment is due to preventing, by means 

 of pressure, the absorption of this toxin seems most highly probable. 



"We are of the opinion that eclampsia is due to a similar toxin elaborated 

 by the breast in a similar manner, and would strongly recommend, as the most 

 promising treatment, dil.itation of the breasts with oxygen or sterile air, accom- 

 panied by vigorous massage of the breasts, or forcible compression of them by 

 means of a properly applied bandage, at the same time using whatever medical 

 measures may be indicated." 



The toxic character of the colosrtrum in parturient paresis, J. H. Kastle and 

 D. J. Healy (pp. 91-100). — In this second paper the authors report tests made 

 of the effect upon the guinea pig of injections of the first colostrum of cows 

 suffering from parturient paresis, the first colostrum of the normal cow, fresh 

 milk from the station herd, the urine of the normal cow and the first urine of 

 a cow suffering from parturient paresis, normal salt solution (0.85 per cent 

 NaCl), and the aqueous solution of certain residues from colostrum and milk 

 left after precipitating the colostrum and milk with dilute acid, and evaporating, 

 respectively. 



" It is evident from these results that normal salt solution, fresh milk from 

 normal cows, the colostrum of normal cows, and the urine of a healthy cow 

 cause no serious disturbances in the normal guinea pig, when injected into the 

 peritoneal cavity. The injection of the colostrum of normal cows invariably 

 caused a diarrhea in healthy guinea pigs, male and female, from which they 

 grn dually recovered after a few days. . . . 



" On the other hand, death resulted from the injection of the colostrum of the 

 cow having parturient paresis, and the post-mortem and microscopical exami- 

 nations of the organs of the 4 guinea pigs that were thus killed showed the same 

 pathological degenerations and changes that are characteristic of eclampsia. 

 Unfortunately, but little if anything seems to be known regarding the micro- 

 pathology of parturient paresis in the cow. We have shown, however, that 

 cows recovering from an attack of this disease invariably show a nephritis. 

 Our results with the colostrum of the cow suffering with parturient paresis 

 certainly go to show the presence therein of some substance toxic to guinea pigs 

 and certainly point to the udder and the mammary glands as the place of origin 

 of the toxins or internal secretions producing parturient paresis and eclampsia 

 respectively. The fact that the urine of the cow with parturient paresis causes 

 such a profound diuresis in the guinea pig also points to the presence of toxic 

 substances in the urine of animals so affected, and indicates that these toxins 

 are not entirely destroyed in the tissues of the cow, but are in part at least, and 



