664 PATHOLOGY OF PARTURITIOX. 



Tlie same writer alludes to another Cow, which, a few hours after calving, was seized 

 with persistent convulsions and great general weakness, which rendered standing im- 

 possible—presenting, in fact, all the symptoms of the previous case. This attack con- 

 tinued for three hours, and another followed on the same day. Then an interval of a 

 day elapsed, when the fits succeeded each other so frequently, and with so much 

 intensity, that the animal died from asphyxia. 



These cases afford an illustration of the usual symptoms observed in 

 this disease as affecting the Cow. The urine appears to have been 

 examined in only one instance, and then albumin was present during 

 the crisis, which lasted for three days ; but it was not found when con- 

 valescence had set in. 



In the Goat only one case has been reported — that by Lafitte.^ The 

 animal had been affected with metro-peritonitis following parturition, 

 and for which it had been appropriately treated. Two days subse- 

 quently it appeared to be agitated and restless ; all the muscles, and 

 particularly those of the jaws, were convulsed ; the eyes rolled about ; 

 there was abundant salivation, etc., and the creature could not stand. 

 There was only one attack, which lasted for several hours. 



The disease has been observed most frequently in the Bitch. 



Hertwig,- who was the first to describe the malady as it affects the 

 Bitch, and Zundel,'^ give a similar account of the symptoms in that 

 animal. The latter had never witnessed premonitory signs of the 

 disease, though Hertwig had. He says that with Bitches which are 

 suclvhng, and particularly those kept in the house and well fed, it is 

 not rare to observe a state of tetanic rigidity and incomplete paralysis, 

 with the following symptoms : The animal suddenly commences to be 

 uneasy and anxious ; the ej^es are haggard, sometimes the nose is a little 

 hot ; the respiration is very short and quick, though pressure on the 

 chest or abdomen does not cause any pain. In a short time — about a 

 quarter of an hour after the difficulty in respiration was observed — the 

 animal cannot stand, but falls on its side, and lies with the limbs 

 extended : even when raised it cannot stand. The breathing becomes 

 still quicker — from 60 to 100 per minute ; while the pulse is 100, 

 small, hard, and irregular. Consciousness appears to be retained, but 

 the animal refuses food and drink, and the alvine and urinary excretions 

 are suppressed. The mammary glands are greatly engorged, hot, and 

 abundantly provided with milk, the quality of which does not appear to 

 be altered or injurious to the young, which usually continue to suck as 

 before. This state continues for forty-eight hours, wlien death generally 

 occurs from apoplexy and paralysis ; though by proper treatment the 

 disease may always be quickly cured. Zundel's description is almost 

 the same, except that he says there are tonic convulsions, with clonic 

 spasms extending rapidly to the whole of the body ; sometimes there is 

 trismus, with grinding of the teeth ; constantly there is a white foam at 

 the mouth and muscular tremblings of the jaws ; the breathing is 

 stertorous, and sensibiUty much diminished. There are cases in which 

 the eclampsia appears to be merely partial, affecting only the hind- 

 limbs, for instance, and the animal sits, the head being unaffected, and 

 whines. The disease is continuous and without intermissions, the 

 attacks lasting for one or two days. If no relief is afforded, the creature 

 dies from total paralysis, due to congestion of the meninges of the brain, 

 or from asphyxia after a spasm of the glottis. 



^ Revue Vettrinaire, 1876, p. 71. - Kranhhdlen dtr Hunde, 1853. 



■^ Dictiounaire de Med. de Chir. et d'Hyjiene Vetirinaires ; article ' Eclampsie. ' 



