686 PATHOLOGY OF PARTURITION. i 



interval of a day elapsed, when' the fits succeeded each other so frequently, and with so 

 much intensity, that the animal died from asphyxia. 



6. Lafitte [Ibid., p. 71) describes the case of a Goat affected with metro-peritonitis 

 after parturition, and for which it was treated? Two days afterwards, the creature ap- 

 peared to be agitated and restless ; convulsions were manifested in all the muscles, and 

 particularly those of the jaws; the eyes rolled about; there was abundant salivation, 

 etc. ; the animal could not stand. There was only one attack, which lasted for several 

 hours. 



7. Mauri {Ibid., p. 18) relates that a Bitch, four years old, and which had been ill since 

 the previous evening, was sent to the Toulouse Veterinary School. Fifteen days pre- 

 viously it had given birth to four puppies, which it suckled. That morning, about three 

 o'clock, its owner was awoke by its plaintive cries and its restlessness. It was then 

 anxious, its mouth was open, and it breathed as if it had been running fast on a hot day; 

 it also appeared to be weak in its hind-parts. On its arrival at the school, it was lying 

 on its side in a large hamper, with its four puppies, which were at the teat ; the respira- 

 tion was very hurried, short, irregular, and noisy ; it was executed in a jerking, irregular 

 manner ; the ribs appeared to be limited in their movements, as in a horse affected with 

 tetanus. The mouth was half open, the tongue pendent, and the saliva flowing in a 

 frothy, abundant stream. The animal convulsively closed its jaws, and withdrew its 

 tongue from time to time, in order to swallow a portion of the saliva; the buccal and 

 conjunctival mucous membrane was greatly injected ; the physiognomy expressed great 

 anxiety rather than pain ; the eye was widely open, bright and animated, and the visual 

 axis was not deviated. The limbs were kept extended and immovable, without tetanic 

 rigidity. At intervals the animal attempted to get up, and managed to raise itself on its 

 fore-limbs; but the hind-legs moved in different directions, and automatically, so that 

 the Bitch could not co-ordinate them in a determinate manner. The joints could be easily 

 flexed on each other, by seizing the bones like the branches of a pair of compasses, but 

 when left to themselves they immediately became extended. The pulse was strong and 

 quick. The senses were unimpaired, and when its name was called the animal directed 

 its eyes towards its master, and attempted to move its tail. This did not always happen, 

 however, for the creature generally appeared to be completely absorbed by its condition 

 — a circumstance which might have led to the belief that its general sensibility was 

 diminished. There was no appetite, and the excretion of faeces and urine was completely 

 suppressed since the commencement of the disease. 



Mauri, never having had an opportunity of witnessing such a malady, was much 

 troubled to give a name to the collection of symptoms. As, however, paraplegia ap- 

 peared to be imminent, he ordered sinapisms to the limbs and the spine, and enemas of 

 tepid water. In the evening the symptoms were ameliorated ; the animal, instead of 

 lying extended on its side, was curled round as in health, and when excited it got up, 

 staggered, and fell on the litter ; a deep coma had given place to the excitement observed 

 in the morning, and on some bread and milk being offered, it slowly took a small quan- 

 tity. Next day all the symptoms disappeared, and though the animal remained for five 

 davs in the hospital kennels, no relapse occurred. 



S. Mauri, in another instance [Ibid.., p. 20) — that of a two-year-old Bitch, which had 

 nursed two puppies for a month, and during that time seemed to be in perfect health, 

 but which was suddenly seized with agitation and anxiety, appeared to be suffocated, 

 could scarcely stand, and appeared to be paralyzed in its hind-limbs — noted the follow- 

 ing symptoms : General agitation of all the muscles, anxious physiognomy, and all the 

 characteristic features described in the preceding case. The respiration was very labori- 

 ous, though the ribs were immovable. The gait was unsteady, and the hind quarters 

 were feeble, as in confirmed rabies. The animal appeared to be impelled to move about 

 incessantly, and if it stopped it fell ; then the limbs became rigidly extended. In the 

 midst of its convulsions, it endeavored to rise, but could not co-ordinate its movements 

 — it turned itself on its back, so as to lie alternately on the right or left side. After 

 numerous attempts it sometimes succeeded in getting up, and commenced to walk, but 

 only to fall again; it could only stand on its rigid paws by resting against a wall or tree. 

 An hour after its arrival at the school, it could not rise unaided. Its senses did not ap- 

 pear to be affected ; the appetite was lost, and there was neither defecation nor micturi- 

 tion during the attack. The case in every respect appeared to be similar to the preced- 

 ing. No treatment was adopted, and in the evening the Bitch had almost completely 

 recovered, though it was rather sleepy and dull. Next day it was taken away cured. 



9. The same authority [Ibid.., p. 22) records the case of a Bitch brought to the 

 Toulouse' Veterinary School, and which caused anxiety about three hours previously by' 

 its agitation, breathlessness, and anxious look. It had fallen, was seized with contrac 

 tion of the limbs, got up, and staggered about in different directions, until at last it be- 

 came so weak that it could not stand. When Mauri saw it, it was lying on its side, the 

 limbs extended, and agitated from time to time with clonic convulsions. The animal 



