PJin-nUEXT AFOI'LEXy—Pi'EUPKlLiL VOLLAl'.sE. 619 



Professor Trasbot asserts that the disease is the result of spinal con- 

 gestion, with consecutive paralysis. 



In England the opinion has long prevailed that puerperal collapse 

 is the consequence of cerebral con^'estion, generally terminating in 

 hieniorrhage, and that the peculiar distribution of the cerebral blood- 

 vessels in the Cow predispose to this accident. It may be noted that 

 a similar arrangement of these vessels is present in the Pig, and that, 

 according to some German veterinarians a disease very like the puerperal 

 collapse of the Cow is observed in Sows after parturition in North 

 Germany ; but Thoraassen^ points out an important difference, inas- 

 much as in the Sows the paralysis is not complete, there is intense 

 fever, and the animals generally recover. 



2. Anj::mia of the Nekve-Centres. — Many years ago, Haubner 

 came to the conclusion that puerperal collapse was due to cerebral 

 anirmia resulting from an ex vacuo hyperucmia of the abdominal organs, 

 as Cows of a certain age were predisposed to this congestion from want 

 of contractile power in their abdominal parietes. Werner and Prehr 

 were also of opinion that cerebral aniomia was owing to abdominal 

 congestion. Billings- supposed that an exaggerated sensibility of the 

 uterine nerves, induced, in a reflex manner, spasm of the arterioles of 

 the brain and kidneys, and so caused auicmia of these organs. Franck 

 believed the condition to be owing to secondary anaemia succeeding 

 congestion of the brain, occurring in Cows which had an easy and 

 rapid delivery. The sudden contraction of the uterus and its diminished 

 capacity brought about by the post ixirtum pains, causes great disturb- 

 ance in the blood circulation. The organ receives much less blood, and 

 this, in ordinary cases, is compensated for by the increased aOlux to 

 the mamniic and the skin ; but a chill to the latter may upset this 

 physiological compensation, and tlie repelled blood is diverted else- 

 where ; if this be to the brain, then there is cerebral congestion and 

 consequent oedema, resulting in aniumia by compression of the blood- 

 vessels. There is a predisposition to serous effusions in animals after 

 parturition, because of the hydricmic condition of their blood, and 

 especially when there is passive congestion of the kidneys and albu- 

 minuria towards the termination of pregnancy. Tlio great frequency 

 of cerebral hyperiemia in the Cow, was regarded by Franck as a con- 

 sequence of the division of the internal carotid into a number of small 

 vessels before it enters the cranial cavity, as well as the formation of 

 the rctc viirahilc from a common branch that gives off the cerebral 

 arteries. 



This theory is adopted by Goring, who edits the second edition of 

 Franck's work on " Veterinary Obstetrics," and is accepted by many 

 practitioners. 



Werner's'' theory' is somewhat analogous to that of Franck. 

 The vascular system is involved, as shown by the diminution of 

 temperature and the lacteal secretion, as well as the nervous system — 

 manifested by the general depression, loss of sensation, inactivity of the 

 spinal cord in the dorsal region, suspended digestion, quickened" action 

 of the heart and slowing of the respiration. Too rapid evacuation of 

 the contents of the uterus causes descent of the abdominal viscera, 

 ^ Reriidl dc Mt'lecine Veierinaire, 18S0, p. 784. 

 - American Journal ot' Comparative Medicine, 1584. 

 ^ Wochenschrijtfur Thierheilkunde und I'iehzucht, 1868, p. 363. 



