APOPLEXY FROM CONGESTION. 525 



POST MORTEM APPEARANCES. 



The vessels of the body generally are filled with dark-coloured 

 blood, the tissues are moist ; the uterus is generally large and 

 congested : this may, however, be unassociated with the disease, 

 as it is the natural condition of the womb so soon after parturi- 

 tion. Extravasations of blood are found at the base of the 

 brain, on the medulla, and cervical portion of the spinal cord. 

 In some cases, however, actual rupture of the vessels has not 

 occurred ; great congestion of the vessels and the red points — 

 puucta vasculosa — have been very marked when the brain has 

 been cut with the knife, and in others no marked congestions 

 have been seen, having in all probability disappeared post 

 mortem, or perhaps immediately previous to the animal's death 

 — congestion being generally an ephemeral condition ; but in 

 all instances there is an accumulation of fluid in the ventricles, 

 and the brain substance itself is loaded with serosity. 



The digestive organs, kidneys, liver, heart, present no special 

 signs ; the serous membranes are sometimes covered with pete- 

 chial spots, the lungs are engorged as in all cases of death from 

 paralysis of the respiratory apparatus. Thinking that perhaps 

 the symptoms of intoxication seen in the disease were due to 

 ursemic poisoning, I have very carefully examined the kidneys, 

 but have never been able to detect any special lesions which 

 support that view. It is quite possible, however, that urea is 

 superabundantly jjresent in the circulation, but I do not think 

 that it has any special connection with the origin of parturient 

 apoplexy. Further observations are, however, required before 

 this matter is satisfactorily solved. I have never detected 

 albumen in the urine. 



TREATMENT. 



In the earlier stages. Whether the animal is standing, or lying 

 prostrate and in a state of coma, if the pulse be not excessively 

 weak, and the heart's action almost fluttering, recourse must be 

 had to venesection. Slow and deep breathing, with a tendency 

 to stertor, add greatly to the necessity of immediate bleeding. 

 The beneficial action of the withdrawal of blood is shown by 

 the pulse becoming fuller, stronger, and better in tone. The 



