PARTURIENT APOPLEXY.— PARTURIENT COLLAPSE. 66i 



{hemiplegia). Saake says he has sometimes seen instances in which the 

 fore-limbs were paralyzed, while the posterior ones could be moved 

 freely. 



Afuanrosis is readily discovered, from the animal being blind. It is 

 generally persistent. Breulet, Gabler, Dommelen and Festal have re- 

 corded instances. 



Prognosis. 



The prognosis of parturient apoplexy is generally difficult, if not 

 unfavorable; as a fatal termination occurs in a large proportion of cases. 

 Of 721 cases treated by various methods, Franck states that 294 either 

 died or were slaughtered — 40 8 per cent. Of course, no definite conclu- 

 sion can be drawn from these figures ; as it is possible that some, if not 

 many, of the cases may have been parturient fever, while of those killed 

 probably a few recoveries might have been noted. Saint-Cyr, in 466 

 cases, gives 45 per cent, deaths ; while Stockfieth gives 50 per cent. 



Often cases which appear very trifling at first, have a rapidly fatal 

 termination ; while others which commenced with alarming symptoms, 

 quickly recover. Therefore it is, that perhaps in no disease with which 

 we are acquainted is a reliable prognosis more difficult to be arrived at, 

 not only in the earlier stages, but during the whole of its course. " There 

 is no absolute fr/Z^r/w;;/," says Lanzillotti,- "by which we can positively 

 say whether we can cure the case, or whether death will ^nsue ; and it 

 often happens that the result contradicts the prognosis." And Allemani 

 slates that he has seen cases which looked so favorable, as to lead him 

 to believe they would recover, suddenly become aggravated without any 

 apparent cause, and succumb ; while others which exhibited the gravest 

 symptoms in all their intensity, and gave no hope of recovery, have been 

 restored to health. 



This is probably the experience of every one who has had to contend 

 with the disease ; it is in consequence of this uncertainty, and the fatality 

 attending the malady, that the butcher is so frequently called in, and the 

 animal is killed and its flesh sold as food. As to the propriety of util- 

 izing the flesh in this manner, there have been different opinions; but 

 provided the animal has not been drugged to any considerable extent 

 before death, and it is killed early, we cannot see any objection to its 

 flesh being consumed. We have no evidence whatever that there is any 

 deleterious agent developed during the malady. With regard to using 

 the flesh of animals which have been 2&Q.QXQA'^'Vi\i parturietit fever — a 

 disease with which parturient apoplexy is so often, and has been for so 

 long, confounded — that is quite another matter, as in this we have a 

 blood poison, — sepsin. 



Though the prognosis is generally so uncertain, yet there are certain 

 manifestations which may assist us, at any rate to some extent, in form- 

 ing an opinion as to the probability of recovery or death. Thus, the 

 earlier the attack occurs after parturition, the more serious the case may 

 be considered ; while the longer its invasion takes place after that act, so 

 is it less likely to be fatal. When it appears within twenty-four hours 

 after calving, then it nearly always terminates in death. It is the same 

 when the attack is very sudden and powerful ; when there is marked 

 coma, rapid and general loss of h^at, great distension of the rumen 

 (which may speedily cause asphyxia), violent convulsions, deep mucous 

 rales in the trachea and bronchi, lustreless eyes, insensible to light or 



