182 PATHOLOGY OF PREGXAXCV, 



which are greatly dhninished, and the proportion of albumin is also 

 notably decreased, while the serum, on the contrary, is much above the 

 normal standard. The amount of fibrine likewise varies, though this 

 variation is neither so constant nor so uniform as in the other consti- 

 tuents ; but it generally increases towards the termination of pregnancy.^ 

 Owing to this decrease in the solid portion of the blood, and particu- 

 larly in the red globules, the pregnant female is more anaemic than 

 plethoric. It is none the less exposed to inflammatory attacks, how- 

 ever, owing to the excess of fibrine ; but, as Saint-Cyr justly remarks, 

 these phlegmasitE assume a particular physiognomy, and run a very 

 different course to those observed in ordinary conditions, and more 

 especially with I'egard to depletive measures, which have to be carefully 

 resorted to — or, we might say, abstained from. 



The mechanical effects of the foetus, and the immense volume of the 

 uterus, must also produce disturbance of most essential functions, 

 and more especially those of the abdominal and thoracic organs. There- 

 fore it is, that during pregnancy such affections as indigestion, colic, 

 tympanitis, enteritis, or pneumonia, are so frequently followed by 

 abortion and slow convalescence, or death of the animal. 



Chronic diseases have in general but little influence on gestation. It 

 has been imagined that " broken wind " in the Mare is much relieved 

 during pregnancy ; but some observations would go to prove that it 

 is rather aggravated — though the troublesome cough does not appear 

 to prevent the fcBtus reaching its full period. 



Acute diseases are more serious, and especially those of an epizootic 

 kind, which often cause abortion or induce premature labour. Influenza 

 very often leads to abortion in Mares, and the contagious pleuro- 

 pneumonia of cattle has frequently the same result, death being more 

 frequent as pregnancy is well advanced. Sheep-pox is also more 

 serious and more often fatal in pregnant Sheep, and most frequently 

 followed b}^ abortion. 



A number of observers— among them Saint-Cyr, Bouley, Eoll, Lafosse, 

 and Eeynal — have remarked that the cattle-plague does not appear to 

 have any very particular influence on gestation : and the same has been 

 said of eczema epizoutica (" foot-and-mouth disease "). But this Con- 

 tinental experience does not harmonise with that relating to these two 

 diseases in our own country. Abortion has been a notorious sequel of 

 both maladies, and more especially of " foot-and-mouth disease," in 

 which the losses from this cause have sometimes amounted to twenty, 

 thirty, fifty, and even more, per cent. 



Painful and nervous diseases are also more serious during pregnancy 

 than at other times. It would, however, seem to be an error to attri- 

 bute the non-appearance of certain disorders during pregnancy to the 

 influence of this condition, as Spinola has done with regard to 

 rabies, etc. 



SECTION II.— DISEASES INCIDENTAL TO PREGNANCY. 



As has been already stated, the diseases peculiar to the pregnant 

 condition are fewer, not so frequent, and usually much less serious in 

 animals than in the human female. The chief maladies or morbid 



' In woman, it has been noted that the normal proportion of red globules is from 12fi 

 to 127 per 1,000, and that during pregnancy this proportion falls to 120, 115, 95, 90, and 

 even 87 per 1,000 of the total mass of the blood ; while the albumin descends from an 

 average of 70i to 69, •]*;, and 62 per 1,000. 



