784 Parturient Paresis. 



under tlie body, whilst the liead is turned sideways and rests on 

 tlie shoukler of the ni)per side ; if it is straightened and then let 

 go it immediately falls back helplessly into its previous posi- 

 tion. At times the head is stretched out with the under jaw 

 propped on the ground, or the animal lies on its side with head 

 extended and legs outstretched. All muscles seem to be relaxed, 

 but not paralyzed, since the animal at times turns herself over 

 or gets up on her knees and creeps forward. 



The vital functions appear to be lowered in the animal, 

 which lies on the ground as if paralyzed. The patient seems to 

 have fallen into a deep sleep, is quite oblivious to her surround- 

 ings, so that she takes no notice of flies nor reacts to pricks 

 or other irritation. The comatose condition results also in a 

 decline or total absence of the reflexes as a result. Skin and 

 tendon reflexes cannot be produced ; only by tapping the mus- 

 cles can twitchings be caused, because their mechanical irri- 

 tability remains unchanged. Owing to the absence of the cor- 

 neal reflex the periodic shutting of the eye orifice, which in con- 

 sequence of loss of consciousness is half closed does not ensue, 

 the cornea is dull in consequence, dry, and sometimes wrinkled, 

 but at times the eyes are completely closed so that the animal 

 appears asleep. The pupils are greatly dilated and fixed. The 

 mouth is half open, the tongue protrudes, and its upper surface 

 becomes dry. The absence of the swallowing reflexes pro- 

 duces a copious flow of saliva, and if medicine be poured in 

 or if the contents of the rumen be regurgitated into the pharynx 

 choking may occur, and easily lead to gangrene of the air 

 passages, because the reflex of the larynx (coughing) is also 

 extinguished. 



The respirations become deep and slow, not seldom accom- 

 panied by groans, and later stertorous through vibration of the 

 relaxed soft palate, or rattling in cases where edema of the 

 lungs has already occurred, in both cases more or less labored. 

 The activity of the heart is always hastened, 70 to 90 per min- 

 ute, in severer cases up to 120, seldom arhythmic, the pulse is 

 small, soft, and occasionally only perceptible at the abdominal 

 aorta (Hess). 



There arises an arrestment, or at least a retardation, of 

 evacuations, and consequently feces collect in the rectum and 

 urine in the bladder. The contractions of the muscular tissue 

 of the stomachs and intestines are sluggish or are, in most 

 cases, entirely suspended, consequently tympanitis sets in after 

 a short time, which is often severe, whereupon the animal 

 })elches and expels gases as well as at times thin fluid contents 

 of the rumen into the cavity of the mouth. The urine often con- 

 tains some albumin and sugar, the amount of which may be as 

 much as 4% (Nocard). The investigations of Porcher show, 

 however, that the sugar contents of the urine are of no special 

 significance, because the urine of healthy cows and of other 

 female animals often contains sugar after parturition, in the 



