270 NOIIMAL FAETURITIOX. 



Of the importance of the lochia there can be no doubt. By them the 

 uterus is reheved from its physiological hypertrophied condition, aiid of 

 the excitement of which it was the seat during pregnancy and parturi- 

 tion. But it cannot have the same importance as in woman, in whom 

 the lining membrane of the uterus is thrown off after every delivery, 

 and renewed. It is not so with animals, as we shall see hereafter. 



One or two veterinary authorities have attached so much importance 

 to the lochia in animals, that to their suspension or suppression they 

 attribute such serious results as sanguine plethora, articular rheumatism 

 in the Cow, laminitis in the Mare, metro-vaginitis, cystitis, nephritis, 

 peritonitis, mammitis, inflammation of the intestines or spinal cord, 

 coryza, vitulary collapse, etc. But there is evidently exaggeration in 

 this ; and we are inclined to think that, at the most, the untimely 

 cessation of this discharge can only cause, as has been stated, dulness, 

 indifference of the mother to its progeny and surroundings, inappetence, 

 suppression of milk, slight fever, with dry erect coat, and constipation. 



To avoid this untimely cessation of the lochia, it has been recom- 

 mended that, with the larger animals, before and after parturition the 

 food should be sound and nutritive, but moderate in quantity, and such 

 as will not predispose to plethora or congestion ; not to travel or fatigue 

 animals towards the end of pregnancy ; to shelter them at this period ; 

 not to hurry labour, and only to render assistance when necessary ; and 

 after delivery to attend to the removal of the secundines, which are 

 sometimes retained in the Cow for an abnormal period, but should not 

 be allowed to remain longer than four or five days. 



3. MiLK-FEVEE. — In woman the establishing of the lacteal secretion 

 after delivery — generally forty-eight hours — is usually accompanied by 

 a general febrile condition, in which this fluid changes from colostrum 

 to ordinary milk. This is the so-called " milk-fever," a pathological 

 condition said by some authorities to be present in animals, and denied 

 by others. The latter assert that, when parturition has been quite 

 normal, there is only observed a little dulness, lassitude, the pulse 

 fuller and quicker than usual, and less appetite for the first day — all 

 consequences of the suffering undergone dux'ing even the easiest partu- 

 rition. In a day or two, however, all this has disappeared, except 

 perhaps a little weakness, which soon vanishes also. But when par- 

 turition has not been altogether natural, and complications arise, then 

 there may certainly be fever, though this has nothing to do with the 

 change of the colostrum to milk — a gradual process ; indeed, when 

 traumatic fever sets in this secretion is diminished or suspended. 



Saint-Cyr is disposed to deny the existence of this so-called " milk 

 fever" in animals, and he quotes eminent accoucheurs, who are inclined 

 to doubt the existence of this fever in woman as related to the lacteal 

 secretion, but as due rather to traumatism from injury to the genital 

 organs during child-birtli. His own observations on Cows are cer- 

 tainly not favourable to the existence of a fully developed fever in 

 these animals ; and even among those who believe in it, there are many 

 who admit that it is scarcely peixeptible. 



Rainard, for instance, accounts for its being so little marked in 

 animals, by observing that in woman the uterus receives its blood from 

 the abdominal (inferior) aorta, but the mammas from the pectoral (or 

 anterior) aorta ; while in animals the uterus and mammae are supplied 

 by the posterior aorta. In w^oman, when lactation is established, there 



