938 Veterinary Obstetrics 



as successful in the eclampsia of the sheep and goat as in the 

 paresis of the cow. 



Puerperal Eclampsia of the Bitch. 



Next to the cow, probably the bitch suffers most frequently 

 from puerperal eclampsia or paresis. The malady has rarely been 

 observed prior to, or immediately following parturition. Usually 

 it occurs from 2 to 8 days after giving birth to young. Occa- 

 sionally it occurs 10 to 14 days after parturition, and rarely as 

 late as 30 days. Ordinarily it follows easy parturition. It is 

 most frequently observed in highly bred nervous animals, and 

 occasionally follows the psj'^chic disturbance incident to removal 

 of the puppie,s from the patient. 



The symptoms are analogous to the eclampsia already de- 

 scribed in the mare, ewe, goat and sow. The first symptoms are 

 those of anxiety, restlessness and uncertain gait. The patient 

 falls in convulsions, the voluntary muscles being affected with 

 severe tonic and clonic spasms. As in other eclamptic diseases, 

 the body excretions are largely in abeyance, the bowels are 

 torpid, the urinary secretions are suspended, and the mammae 

 are flaccid and devoid of milk. 



During the convulsions, the patient remains conscious. Later 

 the convulsions may be followed by coma and unconsciousness. 

 During the convulsions, the visible mucosa are cyanotic. The 

 affection greatly resembles strychnine poisoning, but De Bruin 

 points out the important difference that in strychnine poisoning 

 the patient is easily excited, while in eclampsia no hypersensi- 

 tiveness is apparent. 



The course of the Disease, like in other members of the 

 eclamptic group, is usually stormy, and, unless energetically 

 handled, ends fatally in 24 to 48 hours. The prognosis is 

 good when the disease is promptly handled. 



De Bruin strongly recommends 20-40 mg. (0.3-0.6 grains) of 

 morphia hydrochlor, hypodermically, repeated in a few hours if 

 necessary. Others advise chloroform inhalations or chloral hy- 

 drate enemas. Some have recommended the administration of 

 ether or chloroform syrup by the mouth ; but, as in all disea.ses of 

 this group, the powers of deglutition are uncertain, and there is 

 constant danger from the introduction of medicines into the 

 lungs. 



