PARTURIENT APOI'LEXy— PUERPERAL COLLAPSE. 653 



secretion for construction does not take place, are chiefly located in the 

 nervous system, and especially in the brain. Conj^estion of the cere- 

 bral vessels at first, which may speedily lead to effusion of serum or 

 hicmorrhage, is indicated by the symptoms and lesions observed in 

 many cases ; while the rapidity with which recovery sets in, and the 

 reported success attending the adoption of a certain method of treat- 

 ment, supports this opinion, and negatives that of septic infection or 

 the presence of ptomaines in the blood as the cause of the disease — did 

 not the history and symptoms otherwise contra-indicate such influences. 



The mechanical effect on the blood circulation of a sudden diminution 

 of pressure on the bloodvessels in the abdominal cavity, if a factor in 

 the causation of puerperal collapse, would, it might be e.xpeoted, be 

 witnessed in other animals in which distension of that cavity during 

 pregnancy is quite as exaggerated as in iiovines. Besides, there is no 

 evidence that vascular engorgement of the abdominal organs is a con- 

 stant feature in necropsies of Cows which have succumbed to the disease; 

 neither is auicmia of the bi-ain always, or even often observed. 



That puerperal collapse in the Cow is chiefly, if not entirely, due to 

 vascular disturbance, may be inferred from the physiological condition 

 of the animal previous to attack, the clinical history, and the necro- 

 scopical appearances, no less than from the results of therapeutical 

 measures in certain cases ; and that this disturbance assumes, primarily, 

 the form of congestion of the nerve-centres may also be accepted, as 

 this theory forms a good basis for the adoption of a rational system of 

 prevention and cure. 



DiofjHosis. 



Puerperal collapse has been confounded with parturient fever and 

 metritis, jjoA'^ ;;a?7»»i paralysis, as well as with parturient eclampsia; 

 so that a distinction from these is important, especially with regard to 

 medical and sanitary measures. 



The symptoms of parturient fever and metritis or metro-peritonitis, 

 as we have described them, when compared with those of the disease 

 now under consideration, differ so widely that a mistake should not be 

 made if ordinary care is exercised ; the thermometer will establish the 

 chief difference, while sensibility and consciousness being present in 

 one affection and suspended in the other, should fix the diagnosis. 



In jiost partum paralysis, the animal is conscious, often bright and 

 attentive to surroundings, generally free from fever, and eats and drinks 

 as usual ; the only symptoms usually noticeable being inability to get 

 up, and to stand when raised. 



By some authorities, and especially by Franck, it has been maintained 

 that puerperal collapse and eclampsia are one and the same disease. 

 But as will be noted when the last-named malady conies to bo dealt 

 with, there is a difference between these diseases, though a mistake is 

 more pardonable here than with the preceding disorders. In eclampsia 

 there are successive and alternating attacks of convulsions and coma; 

 whereas puerperal collapse is marked in its later stages by coma only. 



Prophylaxis. 



In view of the great and rapid fatality attending puerperal collapse, 

 and knowing that the subjects of it are hearty-feeding, deep-milking 

 Cows in a state of extreme physiological plethora, with a strong 

 tendency to vascular congestion of important organs, there is every 



