190 PATHOLOGY OF PREGXANCY, 



and the muscles had lost much of their rigidity, while the aervous excitement had sub- 

 sided ; there was, however, great thirst and obstinate constipation. The latter were 

 relieved by suitable remedies, but some days elapsed before vision was regained. She 

 did well subsequently, and proved to be in foal. 



Amaurosis. 

 The only instances of amaurosis occurring in connection with preg- 

 nancy, are two given by Eiss.^ 



A Mare, nine years old and in good condition, when advanced in pregnancy became 

 blind. On the eyes being examined by Riss, the humours and lens were found to be 

 quite healthy, but amaurosis was complete. A blister was applied to each cheek, and 

 other treatment adopted, but without success. The day following parturition, which 

 occurred about a month afterwards, vision was perfectly restored. 



A seven -year- old Mare, when near parturition, and which had never exhibited any- 

 thing the matter with its eyes, suddenly became blind from amaurosis. Remembering 

 the other case, Riss abstained from treatment. The Mare foaled in thirteen or fourteen 

 days after loss of sight had been noted, and on the third day after this occurrence it was 

 able to see as well as ever. 



CoUfjll. 



We have mentioned hydramnios as a cause of disturbance in the 

 respiration, the obstacle to which is often a marked symptom of that 

 condition. But even without the existence of this kind of dropsy, the 

 breathing is not unfrequently impeded in pregnant animals, and this 

 obstruction is sometimes accompanied by a very harassing nervous 

 cough, which, in the larger animals, and particularly in the Mare, may 

 lead to injury. For the relief of this cough, Zundel recommends the 

 cyanide of potassium, but other drugs will also act in allaying it. 



Albumimiria. 

 The existence of albuminuria in pregnant women has long been 

 known, and Zundel gives it as one of the complications or accompani- 

 ments of gestation in animals ; though he does not look upon it as a 

 pathological condition. Others, on the contrary, think that this is a 

 matter well deserving further investigation; for as, as has been mentioned, 

 various kinds of nervous disturbance — eclampsia, paraplegia, amaurosis, 

 etc. — are probable consequences of albuminuria in the human female, 

 there is no reason why they may not be so in animals. 



Mamviitis. 



Mammitis is another very rare occurrence during pregnancy, and the 

 cases recorded by Saint-Cyr and Violet only number three — two Heifers 

 five or six months pregnant, and a Mare. In the former the udder was 

 much swollen, and from one or two of the teats a reddish serous fluid 

 could be extracted, while it was thick and syrupy in the others ; there 

 was also fever, loss of appetite, and sluggishness. By means of appro- 

 priate treatment all the symptoms were subdued ; but for a considerable 

 time it was necessary to withdraw the fluid from the teats. One 

 Heifer went to the end of her pregnancy, but the other aborted some 

 weeks before. The Mare had already produced Foals, but the udder 

 had regained its natural size before she again became pregnant. The 

 inflammation of the udder was not severe, though a large abscess formed 

 in it ; this was opened, and recovery quickly ensued, without permanent 

 damage to the gland. 



Bed Colostrum. 



Saint-Cyr speaks of red colostrum appearing in the Cow during the 

 last two weeks of pregnancy ; it may suddenly disappear, or it may con- 

 ^ Recueil de Medecine Veterinaire, 1831. 



