ECLAMrsIA. «>"•• 



Mauri, in giving a similar description of the syaiptonis in the several 

 cases he observed, lays stress on the dillicult respiration, which is very 

 quick, irregular, noisy, and spasmodic, the ribs being fixed in their 

 movements, as in the horse affected with tetanus. The eyes were 

 deviated to the left in one of his cases, and the limbs were convulsed 

 as if the animal were receiving a succession of electric shocks. 



There may be only one attack, lasting for a more or less considerable 

 period, or there may be several following each other at longer or shorter 

 intervals. Lafitte saw a Bitch which had given birth to two Puppies, 

 two days previously, and which it was suckling ; it had an attack of 

 eclampsia that continued for a day, another of shorter duration on the 

 following day, and a last and slight one the next day. The Bitch re- 

 covered, but' some days afterwards the Puppies had a similar convulsive 

 seizure, less intense, and shorter in duration. One had three attacks 

 on the first and second days, and died ; the other had only two in one 

 day, and survived. 



The same authority mentions a Bitch that, four days after parturition, 

 had clonic convulsions of all the muscles, especially those of the jaws ; 

 there was much salivation, respiration was ditticult, etc. There were 

 no convulsions during the night, but on the following morning another 

 attack set in, which continued until the evening, when the animal died. 



In some cases, as nmny as six attacks have been noted in the course 

 of a day. 



With regard to the Sow, there is some doubt whether the disease 

 described as puerperal collapse is not eclampsia. Certainly there are 

 indications which belong to both diseases, but the probabilities are that 

 it is the latter ; though it has been classed by Franck with the first- 

 named, which he also erroneously designated eclampsia. It has been 

 observed and reported upon by EUenberger, Wostendorf and Seiler in 

 North Germany. 



In the cases EUenberger^ had an opportunity of seeing, the animals 

 were attacked from three to five days after easy parturition. The 

 appetite was partially or totally lost, the young were neglected, and the 

 animal seldom moved about ; soon it persisted in lying, and there was 

 suppression of fteces and urine, with diminution or cessation of milk 

 secretion. The animal lay on its side, the eyes closed, and the body 

 temperature low ; at times there were feeble convulsions. The respira- 

 tion was irregular, deep-drawn, and moaning ; the pulse 80 to 90 per 

 minute ; and there was great loss of sensibility. Nothing was observed 

 about the generative organs. After twenty-four to thirty-six hours 

 improvement took place, ficces were voided, and the animal began to 

 pay attention to surrounding objects ; the temperature rose; the pulse 

 and breathing became normal; the appetite and milk secretion returned; 

 and in from three to five days recovery was complete. All the Sows 

 survived the attack. In one case reported by Seiler,- the symptoms 

 were more of a convulsive or epileptic nature. 



Etiology and rathology. 



With regard to the etiology of the affection in woman, opinions differ 



widely, and they are not less conflicting with regard to animals. The 



points of similarity in the disease affecting woman and the animals 



enumerated will have been noticed. It occurs in the Cow and Bitch 



' Maijaiin for Thkrheilktinile und I'iehzucht, 1860. 

 - Canstatt's Jahreshtricht, 1862, p. 48. 



