9i8 Veterinary Obstetrics 



At other times she lay prostrate on her side, in severe convul- 

 sions, the legs all rigid, so that the upper feet did not touch the 

 ground, but projected in a straight line from the body. The 

 spasm of the diaphragm was so violent that even when the mare 

 was lying on her sternum her whole body shook violently at each 

 diaphragmatic contraction. When the patient was standing fif- 

 teen or twenty feet distant, a loud thumping noise could be heard, 

 emanating from the chest, like violent palpitation of the heart ; 

 but upon close examination it was found that the disturbance 

 was not synchronous with the heart-beat. 



With great difficulty, owing to the uncertain convulsive move- 

 ments of the animal, I drew about three gallons of blood from 

 the jugular. This was followed by heavy and repeated doses of 

 fluid extract of belladonna and cannabis Indica every hour. 



My prognosis was very unfavorable, as death seemed imminent. 

 After twelve to fifteen hours the symptoms rapidly abated, and 

 within twenty-four hours after my visit she was apparently in 

 her usual health. 



In another case, a high-grade draft mare of vigorous constitu- 

 tion, with a well-nourished healthy foal about fifteen days old at 

 her side, was taken from the pasture for the first time since foal- 

 ing and put to light farm work. In a few hours she had devel- 

 oped all the symptoms enumerated in the preceding cases, and 

 when I arrived she was unable to regain her feet. She rapidly 

 grew worse, and died the same day, within twelve hours from the 

 time she was brought from the pasture in prime condition, and 

 only five to eight hours after the beginning of the attack. 



Another case was that of a little imported pony mare in high 

 condition, with a well nourished foal at her side, six or eight 

 weeks old. The pony was brought from the pasture for the 

 first time since foaling, saddled, and placed in the hands of 

 children, who used her for a few hours in the morning. At 

 noon the stableman found some difficulty in removing the bit 

 from her mouth. 



This attracted no particular attention, but when the owner at- 

 tempted to bridle her again after dinner, and failed on account 

 of firm trismus, it was evident that something serious was wrong. 

 A veterinarian was at hand in a few hours, but the pony rapidly 

 developed all the symptoms enumerated in the preceding cases. 

 She was bled from one jugular on the first, and the other on the 



