EPILEPSIA UTERINA. • 687 



could not be induced to get up, the head only being raised towards the shoulder. The 

 symptoms were altogether similar to those observed in the two preceding cases. No 

 treatment was adopted, and next morning all the symptoms had disappeared. 



10. Lafitte {Ibid., p. 23) attended a Bitch which, two days previously, had brought 

 forth two puppies which it suckled. It appeared to be very weak and staggered in 

 walking. Soon after, the feebleness in the hind-quarters was extreme, and clonic con- 

 vulsions affected all the muscles ; the eye-balls pirouetted in their socket, the jaws were 

 incessantly moved, and saliva ran from the mouth continually ; hearing and seeing were 

 unaffected. Two hours subsequently the animal could not rise. A belladonna draught 

 was given, narcotic frictions were applied along the spine, and emetized enemata admin- 

 istered. In the evening the Bitch was dull, weak, and stupid. In the morning every 

 trace of the malady had disappeared. Next day there was another eclamptic attack of 

 shorter duration, and on the fourth day another still briefer and weaker. The puppies 

 were put to another Bitch, and in about eight days they had attacks similar to those of 

 their parent, though shorter and less intense. One, a female, had three attacks on suc- 

 cessive days, and then died — the other, a male, had only two attacks. 



11. Laiitte [Ibid., p. 25) reports that a Bitch, four days after pupping, had clonic con- 

 vulsions in all its muscles ; its jaws were agitated, it was much salivated, and respired 

 with difficulty. Its expression was animated, but it could not stand, and was compelled 

 to lie. During the night the convulsions ceased, and the animal, although, a little 

 somnolescent, appeared quite recovered ; at ten o'clock next morning, however, it had 

 another attack, and in the evening it died. 



12. The same veterinarian {Ibid., p. 25) alludes to the case of a Bitch which, three 

 days after pupping, had convulsions in the muscles of the trunk and limbs, and the 

 hind-legs were so "feeble that it could not stand. Its gaze was unsteady, and at times 

 the eyes rolled about in the orbits. The masseter muscles participated in the convul- 

 sive movements of the other muscles, so that there was a continual champing of the 

 jaws, and an abundant salivation. The senses were not impaired, however. An anti- 

 spasmodic treatment was adopted. The attack lasted four hours, when recovery took 

 place. 



13. Mauri {Ibid., p. 201) reports another instance of this malady occurring in a Bitch, 

 eight years old, and very fat. It had pupped twelve days before, and suckled four 

 puppies. When brought to the Veterinary School it was lying on its side, though it 

 could raise itself on its sternum — it panted much, its mouth was wide open and much 

 saliva flowed therefrom — the tongue was pendent. The respiratory movements were 

 much quickened, but very shallow. The eyes were wide open and slightly squinted to 

 the left. Violent convulsions, as if produced by electric discharges, agitated the limbs, 

 and threw them into a state of forced extension; if a group of extensor muscles — such 

 as the patellar — were seized in the hand, the energetic contractions, rapidly repeated, 

 could be easily felt. Nothing of the kind could be distinguished in the flexor muscles. 

 The senses were not affected. The urine did not offer any trace of albumen. In the 

 course of the day the symptoms disappeared, and the animal recovered. 



Mauri alludes to four additional cases of eclampsia — two in the Cow and two in the 

 Bitch, all presenting similar symptoms to the foregoing 



CHAPTER VII 

 Epilepsia Uterina. — Mania Puerperalis. 



A PECULIAR nervous affection, to which the designation of " Epilepsia 

 Uterina " has been given by Storrar ( Veterinary journal. Vol. IV., p. 

 53), might be classed with the disease which, in the previous chapter, has 

 been named " Eclampsia," did it not differ somewhat from it, and rather 

 resemble epilepsy, or what Harms has called " Mania puerperalis." 

 Until its exact pathology is better defined, we think it most convenient to 

 retain Storrar's designation 



Symptoms, 



The disease appears to affect the Cow only, and is marked* by great 

 agitation, sometimes fury. We cannot do better than give the symptoms 

 in two cases, and then refer to Storrar's and Harms' evidence. 



