642 PATHOLOGY OF PARTURITION. 



The animals are slaughtered. From time to time in the same country, 

 dry gangrene of the teats is reported as a sequel of collapse. 



Stoellings in the region of the thigh and hock, and laceration of certain 

 muscles — chiefly of the hind-limbs — have been observed in many cases. 

 Sometimes both limbs, and at other times only one limb is involved, the 

 injury being generally so serious that the animals have to be killed. In 

 all probability the damage is due to the struggling and slipping that takes 

 place before the animal becomes unconscious and immovable ; and the 

 damage is not discovered until consciousness returns and it is observed 

 that it cannot get up. 



Prognosis. 



The prognosis of parturient apoplexy is generally unfavourable, as a 

 fatal termination occurs in a very large proportion of cases. Of 721 

 cases treated by various methods, Franck states that 294 either died or 

 were slaughtered — 40-8 per cent. Of course, no definite conclusion can 

 be drawn from these figures ; as it is possible that some, if not many, 

 of the cases may have been parturient fever, while of those killed prob- 

 ably a few recoveries might have been noted if treated. Saint-Cyr, in 

 466 cases gives 45 per cent, deaths ; Stockfleth gives 50 per cent. ; and 

 Violet 25 per cent. Some practitioners have a large percentage of 

 recoveries, while others are unfortunate in obtaining only a small 

 number. 



Often cases which appear very trifling at first, have a rapidly fatal 

 termination ; while others which commenced with alarming symptoms, 

 quickly recover. Therefore it is, that perhaps in no other disease of 

 animals is a reliable prognosis more difficult to be arrived at, not only in 

 the earlier stages, but during the whole of its course. " There is no 

 absolute critermm," says Lanzillotti-Buonsanti, " by which we can 

 positively say whether we can cure the case, or whether death will 

 ensue ; and it often happens that the result contradicts the prognosis." 

 And Allemani states that he has seen cases which looked so favourable 

 as to lead him to believe they would recover, suddenly become aggra- 

 vated without any apparent cause, and succumb ; while others which 

 exhibited the gravest symptoms in all their intensity, and gave no hope 

 of recovery, have been restored to health. 



This is probably the experience of everyone who has had to contend 

 with the disease ; it is in consequence of this uncertainty, and the 

 fatality attending the malady, that the butcher is so frequently called 

 in, and the animal is killed and its flesh sold as food. As to the pro- 

 priety of utilising the flesh in this manner, there have been difierent 

 opinions ; but provided the animal has not been drugged to any con- 

 siderable extent before death, and it is killed early, there is no evidence 

 that the flesh possesses pernicious properties when utilised as food. 

 But with regard to using the flesh of animals which have been affected 

 with parturient feve?- — a disease with which parturient apoplexy is so 

 often, and has been for so long, confounded — that is quite another 

 matter, as in this we have a blood poison — sepsin. 



Though the prognosis is generally so uncertain, yet there are several 

 manifestations which may assist us — at any rate to some extent — in 

 forming an opinion as to the probability of recovery or death. Thus, 

 the earlier the attack occurs after parturition, the more serious the case 

 may be considered ; while the longer its invasion takes place after that 

 act, so is it less likely to be fatal. When it appears within twenty-four 



