636 PATHOLOGY OF PAETUPJTIOX. 



Peritonitis may be combated by the exhibition of large and frequent 

 doses of calomel Van den Eide and Clement were successful in treat- 

 ing serious cases of metro-peritonitis by administering calomel, and 

 applying mercurial ointment to the abdomen. 



When the pain is very severe, mustard may be applied to the surface 

 of the abdomen, and, in the case of small animals, linseed-meal poultices 

 on which laudanum has been sprinkled ; while subcutaneous injections 

 of morphia may be freely resorted to. When great exhaustion or 

 collapse is present, large and frequent draughts, containing diffusible 

 stimulants, must be administered, with nutritious gruel. To the smaller 

 animals milk or beef-tea may be given. 



In the chronic form of metritis, the same treatment may be adopted, 

 so far as the genital canal is concerned ; and if there is vaginal dis- 

 charge, the treatment recommended for leucorrhoea will be suitable. If 

 the uterus is not contracted, this may be promoted by the exhibition of 

 preparations of ergot of rye. 



In handhug animals suffering from parturient fever, or in examining 

 the carcases of those which have died, the veterinary surgeon should be 

 on his guard against inoculation. More particulai'ly is this necessary 

 when exploring the genital canal of the living animal, or removing a 

 putrescent foetus or foetal envelopes. The arm and hand should then be 

 well smeared with oil or lard, and thoroughly cleaned with carbolic acid 

 soap when the operation is completed. 



CHAPTEE IT. 

 Parturient or Puerperal Apoplexy or Collapse. 



Peehaps no disease affecting animals has received a greater amount of 

 attention, or given rise to more widely divergent opinions as to its 

 nature, than the malady to which, chiefly for convenience, we have 

 given the designation of parturient apoplexy or puerperal collapse. 

 Veterinary literature, since the commencement of the century, teems 

 with descriptions and discussions relative to the disease, and the most 

 eminent veterinary pathologists still appear to be far from unanimous 

 as to its nature. The great number of names given to it — some of which 

 either indicate the opinions prevalent with regard to its pathology or 

 causes, or point to prominent symptoms — are evidence of the un- 

 certainty which has prevailed, and now prevails, with regard to it. For 

 instance, it has been designated puerperal fever, nervous ov paralytic form 

 of puerperal fever, milk-fever, puerperal apoplexy, paraplegia, puerperal 

 collapse, vitulary fever, vitulary apoiilexy, vitulary paralysis, processus 

 puerperal, puerperal typhus, calf fever, dropping after calving, eclampsia 

 puerperalis, etc. 



In France it is usually designated " Vitulary Fever," while in 

 Germany it is commonly known as " Calving Fever." In England it 

 is usually designated "Parturient Apoplexy," "Puerperal Fever," 

 " Milk Fever," etc. 



The malady appears to have been known from an early period, but 

 the first exact description of the symptoms we can find is that given by 

 Skellett,^ who names it " Milk Fever, or Dropping after Calving "3 in the 



^ Practical Treatise on the Parturition of the Coiv. London, 1S07. 



