776 Puerjieral Convulsions in Bitches. 



tioiied circiuiistaiice and the fact that the trouble is associated 

 with i^artiiritioii distinguishes the affection both from epilepsy 

 and eclampsia, and appears to justify its separate treatment. 



(a) Puerperal Convulsions in Bitches. 



(Socalled Eclampsia of Bitclus.) 



Etiology. The affection, al)out the character of Avhich 

 nothing is known, is noticed most frequently in pampered pure 

 bred bitches. 



The localization of the irritation which produces the spasms may be in the 

 cerebral cortex, in the subcortical motor centers, or in the anterior horns of the spinal 

 cord, but as consciousness is undisturbed until the end it is probable that the two 

 last structures are concerned most often. In view of the fact that similar convulsions 

 are observed in strychnine poisoning and in tetanus it is not out of the way to 

 assume that the spasms are due to the direct effect of some toxins which are formed 

 somewhere in the body, possibly in the organs of generation, and act on the motor 

 cells of the anterior horns of the spinal cord. This view is more credible than the 

 hypothesis of Friedberger & Frohner, who believe that the immediate cause is to be 

 found in a peculiar reflex irritation arising in the udder or uterus and bringing about 

 anemia of certain centers of the brain. Eeul sees a certain etiological similarity 

 between this disease and parturient paresis. It cannot be wholly rejected that the 

 affection represents, as do puerperal convulsions in general, an anaphylactic phe- 

 nomenon brought about in the course of pregnancy by the homogenous, specific 

 placental albumen, so that after the absorption of considerable quantities of placental 

 tissue anaphylactic symptoms arise. The eclampsia of lying-in women is nowadays 

 considered in many cases in the nature of anaphylactic shock. 



Yassale produced eclamptic attacks in three pregnant bitches by extirpation of 

 the parathyroid glands, and these could be brought to a standstill by the administra- 

 tion of large doses of parathyroidin. On this account he assumes that in a latent 

 parathyroi<lal insufficiency in woman in the last third of pregnancy severe con- 

 vulsions occur. 



In the great majority of cases the illness arises during the 

 first few days after parturition, exceptionally, however, after 

 a longer time, or it may be before the Inrth in the last stage of 

 pregnancy. Friedberger saw a case 50 days after birth, Duet 

 8 days before, Albrecht 63 days after oestrum. According to 

 XTel)ele the illness may occur in bitches which are not pregnant 

 and not suckling, at the time where in case of conception par- 

 turition might have been expected and lactation has also been 

 known to occur at this time. Otherwise the occurrence of 

 convulsions are believed to be dependent on certain accidental 

 causes producing violent mental disturbances (sorrow over lost 

 young, fright, fear of punishment), catching cold, etc.; but 

 such incidents can just as often not be shown to have occurred. 

 Animals once ill are inclined to be attacked at subsequent par- 

 turitions ( Gajewski) . 



The influence of excitement after taking away of the young is generally exag- 

 gerated ; thus in a third of the cases observed by Miiller no young had been taken 

 away from the affected animals. 



Symptoms. The illness commences, as a rule, shortly after 

 normal and easy Inrth (only exceptionally earlier than after 

 48 hours). The animal l)ecomes restless, whimpers and often 



