662 PATHOLOGY OF PARTURITION. 



body. The respiration gradually returns to its normal state, and the 

 pulse resumes its natural rhythm ; the jerking of the limbs and body 

 subsides, perspiration appears, and in from one to five minutes all is 

 tranquil ; the comatose condition which supervenes varies in duration, 

 but the patient awakes greatly exhausted, and complaining of pain in 

 the limbs. (Edema of the face and limbs has been observed. Exception- 

 ally, there is only one attack ; generally there are several, which may 

 succeed each other quickly, when the patient may remain comatose 

 between the pauses, and at the height of an attack death may take place 

 from oedema of the lungs or apoplexy. In favourable cases the intervals 

 become longer, the attacks themselves more imperfect and shorter, until 

 they finally cease. The malady is considered very serious when it occurs 

 during pregnancy, and it has been estimated that one case occurred in 

 every 350 cases of labour. 



It will be seen presently how far these symptoms in woman correspond 

 to and differ from those observed in animals. 



The disease affects the Cow, Goat, Bitch, and perhaps the Sow. It 

 has been studied by a considerable number of observers on the European 

 Continent, and in this country cases of it have been reported, chiefly by 

 Storrar, Eolls, and Clark. I have only seen one case of it, the animal 

 being a Bitch suckling too many Puppies. 



Syvij)ioms. 



In the Cow the disease occurs at all ages, and may appear occasionally 

 before parturition, but is most frequently observed after that event, and 

 soon ; though it may be delayed so long as the twenty-sixth day. 

 PrimiparaB often suffer, and it is said to be most frequently witnessed in 

 Cows in poor condition. It is not always recurrent at subsequent 

 pregnancies, in this respect diilering from the affection in woman, in 

 which it is also more commonly seen before parturition. When it 

 attacks the Cow ante partum, it is believed to be usually about mid-term, 

 and convalescence and recovery may follow without labour being 

 induced. 



The symptoms are not so urgent as in woman, and the disease is far 

 less fatal — though during the attack consciousness is abolished, as in 

 her, in at least the great majority of cases. 



In the cases reported by Clark, ^ the attack was usually sudden, and 

 without warning, though the Cows had not been altogether well for a 

 day or two previously — this period probably corresponding with that of 

 the preliminary malaise experienced by woman. The symptoms were : 

 " foaming at the mouth, champing of the jaws, prominent staring eyes, 

 excited expression, head very often turned to the side ; sometimes lick- 

 ing at the fore-leg, stall, or some imaginary object. Some Cows I have 

 heard bellow, others do not do so ; there was twitching of the body and 

 limbs (clonic spasm), difficulty in respiration according to intensity of the 

 attack. The convulsions generally last two or three hours, and in the 

 majority of cases do not reach the stage of coma, although I have had 

 cases which have done so." 



In a somewhat typical case described by Professor Mauri,- the Cow was four years 

 old, and a jjriniipara, which had cahed, the placenta being expelled two hours after- 

 wards. On the following morning the animal was seized with tremblings, refused all 

 food, manifested breathlessness, and looked anxious. On being led to the pasture, it was 



1 Journal of Comparative Patholofjy and Thtrapentics, 1893, p. 28. 

 - Revue Vtltrinaire, 1876, p. t>5. 



