Parturient Eclampsia in the Mare 919 



second day. In about forty hours after the beginning of the at- 

 tack, the symptoms suddenly abated, and within forty-eight 

 hours the pony was apparently as well as ever. 



We have here a series of cases presenting symptoms no more 

 varied than we would expect to find in different individuals in 

 different stages of the development of the disease, yet passing 

 from one into the other by imperceptible gradations, all apparently 

 due to the same cause. 



In the earlier stages, and in the ver}- mild ca.ses throughout, 

 all showed the restlessness, the staring, pirouetting eyes, the 

 clonic spasms, especially marked in the diaphragm. In propor- 

 tion to the nervousness, the pulse and temperature are little 

 altered. If unchecked, the clonic spasms are largely succeeded 

 by those of a more tonic nature, trismus becomes a marked 

 symptom early in the malady, the restlessness and convulsions 

 increase in intensity, the respiration becomes more labored, the 

 mucous membranes livid from partial asphj^xia, the whole muscu- 

 lar system extremely tetauized. The animal finally becomes 

 unable to .stand, or to find relief in lying on the sternum, but lies 

 prostrate on the side in con.stant convulsions until it succumbs 

 from asphyxia. 



The history is quite uniform. The disease occurs wholly in 

 vigorous mares, in high condition, of mature age, but not old. 

 They have recently foaled naturally and easily, and have healthy, 

 well nourished foals at their sides. The mammary glands are 

 well developed and active in all cases. In nearly, if not all the 

 cases I have related, the mares had been enjoying unrestricted 

 freedom at pasture constantly since foaling, until taken up a few 

 hours prior to the attack, which was suddenly ushered in without 

 warning. 



It seems that a sudden change of surroundings, a change from 

 freedom to the stable or harness, probably by causing maternal 

 anxiety for the foal, has an essential influence in the immediate 

 causation of the disease. The symptoms indicate a grave dis- 

 turbance of the central nervous system, expressed for the most 

 part in convulsions and spasms of the striated muscles. The 

 symptoms we have enumerated as occurring in the mare bear a 

 close resemblance to those of eclampsia of other lower animals 

 and of woman, as well as to the early stages of parturient apo- 

 plexy of the cow. 



