PARTURIENT APOPLEXY.— PARTURIENT COLLAPSE. 677 



sure from the brain, and although the pulse may indicate stimulants 

 rather than depletion, it will be found that as the blood flows the tone of 

 the pulse will improv^e ; for the weakness of the pulsation, the want of 

 impulse, and debility of the heart's action, are results of brain-pressure. 

 If, hx)wever, the surface of the body be cold, if the animal be t>'mpanitic, 

 the heart's action fluttering, and the pulse almost undetectable, bleeding 

 is calculated to do more harm than good, as the heart's action would 

 now be further impaired, and the amount of arterial blood sent to the 

 brain diminished. For it must be remembered that the cerebral conges- 

 tion is now less due to an over-abundant supply of arterial blood than to 

 pressure upon it by venous or capillary engorgement ; that, in fact, the 

 brain — engorged as it may app'ear — is in an anaemic condition in regard 

 to its arterial supply ; and when this is the case, paralysis of the heart is 

 to be prevented, if possible, by the use of stimulants," 



A principal indication in the treatment of the disease, viewing it in the 

 light we have done, is Xo favor the cutaneous circulation and stimulate the 

 skin by every means in our power, and thus relieve those organs in which 

 the blood-pressure is too considerable. With this object in view, the 

 skin is to be well rubbed with straw wisps, and then warmly clothed. Or 

 the course of the spine and for some distance on each side, may after- 

 wards be stimulated with strong ammonia liniment. Some authorities 

 recommend the application of a mixture of croton oil with oil of turpen- 

 tine j others employ a thick layer of mustard, after the skin has been 

 well cleansed with warm water and the hair removed ; others resort to 

 sacks steeped in boiling water apiplied to the spine — sometimes after 

 deep scarifications have been made. 



In addition to the applications of turpentine or mustard to the spine, 

 they are often made to the limbs. 



In some cases, a hot iron — the laundress's flat iron — has been applied 

 to the back in an "ironing" fashion, and at a somewhat high tempera- 

 ture, a piece of flannel being interposed between it and the skin. The 

 action of the skin can be greatly augmented by covering the body with a 

 wet sheet, and above this a thick woollen one, surrounding the animal 

 with plenty of litter. 



Cold water or ic6 may be applied to the head ; but this application re- 

 quires care, as the resulting coryza and other complications may prove 

 very serious, should the animal recover from the collapse. 



With regard to the tympanitis which is so often present as a conse- 

 quence of the torpidity in the digestive organs, this should be combated 

 in the ordinary way, by the administration of stimulants. These are 

 most effective and rapid in their action when given in the fluid form, if 

 the animal can swallow. If it cannot, then they may be administered by 

 means of the stomach-pump or probang, or even in bolus. Williams rec- 

 ommends giving carbonate of ammonia in bolus ; the hand being well 

 oiled, is to be pushed as far as possible into the pharynx, when the dose 

 " will slowly gravitate into the rumen." Should the medicine not act 

 promptly, or should the tympanitis be so great that suffocation is to be 

 apprehended, then the rumen ought to be punctured without delay. This 

 may be effected by the ordinary trocar and cannula, the latter being 

 allowed to remain in the rumen for some time. It may be closed by a 

 cork, which is to be withdrawn when the gas accumulates. If care is 

 exercised, fluid medicaments. may be introduced into the stomach through 

 the cannula. 



