670 PA THOLOG Y OF PARTURITION. 



the Rosenberg-Traube theory as to the eclampsia of woman, which ap- 

 plies equally to that of Cows. This theory can be summed up in the 

 following sentences : i. The origin of the symptoms of eclampsia lies in 

 the altered conditions of the brain circulation, and not in a uraemic 

 blood-poisoning, as Frerichs, Listzmann, Braun, and others have main- 

 tained ; 2. This altered circulation in the brain is brought about by in- 

 creased aortic pressure, and perhaps also by direct reflex brain-stimulus. 

 Owing to the sudden and violent contractions of the uterus, blood must 

 be poured into the aorta, and the consequence will be hyperaemia, and 

 afterwards oedema and anaemia, of the brain ; 3. The brain oedema and 

 the anaemia resulting therefrom, are materially afifected by the aqueous- 

 ness of the blood after parturition. This hydrsemia is undoubtedly in- 

 creased during the last period of pregnancy, by the appearance of albu- 

 men in the urine. 



This theory is all the more valuable, as its correctness has been ex- 

 perimentally demonstrated on living animals. Bidder and Munk have 

 made experiments with regard to eclampsia in animals. They first in- 

 jected tepid water into the carotids; and as soon as the pressure of the 

 water reached seven times that of the blood, coma and convulsions im- 

 mediately set in. The dilution of the blood does not altogether account 

 for the convulsions. Strong and momentary pressure had no effect ; but 

 when the pressure was applied continuously, coma, spasms, or at least un- 

 consciousness, resulted. Bidder came to the conclusion that increased 

 blood-pressure alone would not produce eclampsia ; and that this fluid 

 must be much more impoverished, and the pressure more durable, to in- 

 duce this condition. Although it cannot be denied that the injection of 

 warm water causes certain changes in the blood and unknown disturb- 

 ances in the brain, and although we can arrive at no definite conclusion 

 as to the extent of blood-pressure in the vessels of the brain, these ex- 

 periments are of the utmost importance. 



The question now is whether, in calf-fever, changes in the brain occur,' 

 such as are portrayed in the Rosenberg-Traube theory t This question 

 must be answered in the affirmative. Nearly all those who have had op- 

 portunities of dissecting Cows which died of calf-fever, mention that, ac- 

 cording to the stage in which death occurred, hyperaemia of the brain, 

 brain oedema, and exudation in the cranial cavity. As soon, however, as 

 it reaches the degree of brain oedema, anaemia sets in. It may as well 

 be casually remarked, that animals may suffer from arterial anaemia — 

 and this is most likely to induce eclampsia — simultaneously with venous 

 hyperaemia of the brain. 



The question may be asked. How is it that such a brain anaemia en- 

 sues after calving, and what makes it so prevalent among cattle ? As a 

 matter of fact, there are a host of conditions during, and particularly after, 

 calving which are most favorable to an attack of eclampsia, from the 

 Traube-Rosenberg point of view. It is also a fact that calf-fever sets in 

 almost without any exception, during, or after, parturition, and simul- 

 taneously with the involution period of the uterus. In many cases, the 

 commencement of the malady corresponds with the "after-pains." Fur- 

 thermore, the malady in question principally attacks Cows which are in 

 good milk, and, as a rule, those which are best fed ; and these attacks 

 generally follow easy parturitions. Consequent on the uterus contrac- 

 tion and diminution, a great portion of the circulation is diverted from 

 it. The blood is poured into the larger trunks and into the aorta. The 



