690 PA THOL OG Y OF PA R TURITION. 



which closely simulated the painful and serious malady known as *' Lam- 

 initis," and appeared to be related to the parturient state. The disease 

 does not seem to be very common ; though Obich ( Wochenschrift fiir 

 Thierhei/kufide, 1869, p. 105) asserts that it and metritis are the most 

 frequent sequelae of parturition in the Mare. It appears to have been 

 first described by Tisserant in 1846 {J^ournai des Veterinaires du Midi, 

 vol. ix., p. 347) ; since then it has been alluded to by Gloag and Smith in 

 England {Veterifiarian, 185 1, pp. 14, 258), Fabry, Guilmot, Lecouturier, 

 Windelinck, and Deneubourg in Belgium (Atmales de Med. Veteniaire de 

 Bruxelks, i860, 1861, 18C8), Obich in Germany {Op. df.), and Ayrault in 

 France {Recueil de Med. Veierinaire, 1866). At page 632 of this work, it 

 will be found that Hudson alludes to this parturient laminitis as a com- 

 plication of ruptured vagina. 



Symptoms. 



The symptoms of the disease are those of laminitis occurring under 

 ordinary conditions. They are suddenly developed on the second or 

 third day after foaling, or abortion, more rarely on the fourth day, and 

 very seldom later. In a small number of cases, inflammation of the feet 

 has been noticed either during or immediately after parturition. Excep- 

 tionally, it has taken place within twenty-four hours after the contents of 

 the uterus have been expelled. As a rule, there has been nothing re- 

 markable in the case — birth having taken place naturally ; sometimes, 

 however, parturition may have been difficult. 



The attack is either sudden, or only very indefinite premonitory indi- 

 cations are present. The animal becomes unusually restless, and moves 

 its limbs — the fore one especially — continually, while it exhibits signs of 

 great suffering. There is fever, quick and hard pulse, hurried respiration, 

 and all the other signs of this most distressing foot-inflammation, the 

 most marked of which at this time is the disregard of the progeny. In 

 other cases, the attack is more gradual ; there is loss of appetite, great 

 thirst, depression, hurried respi^'ation, full, hard, and quick pulse, consti- 

 pation, etc. — premonitory symptoms which may continue for two, three, 

 or four days. The fore or hind feet may be affected. Tisserant and 

 Guilmot say the former, Deneubourg the latter ; though in some in- 

 stances all the feet may be involved. The position of the animal, if 

 standing, indicates the feet affected, and they are found to be extremely 

 hot, the plantar arteries throbbing, and percussion of the hoof causes 

 intense pain. During the inflammation, the Mare evinces the greatest 

 agony. If all the feet are implicated, standing may be impossible ; the 

 expression is anxious and pinched ; the respiration is hurried, jerking 

 and plaintive, and the nostrils widely dilated ; the skin is usually cov- 

 ered with perspiration, and the production of milk is completely checked. 

 Indeed, the rapid disappearance of this secretion has attracted the atten- 

 tion of nearly every observer. In the evening, perhaps, there will be an 

 abundant supply of milk, and in the morning mulsion or suction will 

 only obtain a few drops of a transparent or reddish fluid, though the 

 mammae may look as full and as well-developed as usual. This suppres- 

 sion of its supply of food is soon testified to by the foal, which betrays 

 its sensations of hunger by becoming less timid, and making itself familiar 

 with those around it. 



The duration of the disease is from four to eight days ; Franck says 

 from eight to fourteen days. The symptoms are certainly most intense 



