CHAPTER III. 
COMPLICATIONS OF TRAUMATIC LESIONS. 
1 
SYNCOPE—SHOCK—LOCAL STUPOR. 
Traumatic syncope is a serious accident, appearing suddenly, and 
characterized by arrest of the beatings of the heart and a condition of 
apparent death. 
In all species, one may observe mechanical syncope, by cerebral 
anemia, due to a very abundant hemorrhage and to the depletion of 
the circulatory system. , 
Reflex syncope is very rare in animals. Goubaux has recorded one 
case seen at the clinic of Bouley. It was in a very delicate and impres-. 
sionable dog suffering from a tumor of the abdominal walls. While this. 
was being excised without sensible loss of blood, or compression of the- 
respiratory organs, the animal was seized with a mortal syncope. (*). 
We have observed a similar case in a slut from which we were removing. 
a tumor of the ventral mammal. We also witnessed another in a mare. 
during ovariotomy; the puncture of the vaginal walls and the enlarge~ 
ment of the wound had been done without incident; at the moment 
when the hand entered the abdominal cavity, the animal made very 
violent expulsive efforts; scarcely had the removal of the first ovary 
begun when she staggered and fell lifeless : the respiration had stopped,,. 
the beatings of the heart were no longer perceptible, the reflexes were 
gone. Artificial respiration and titillation of the tongue having been 
made, after a few minutes, the movements of the ribs and of the heart 
reappeared. 
Mechanical syncope may be prevented by avoiding a large loss of 
blood. The treatment for both forms is that of syncope in general: 
place the head in a dependent position, excite the skin by flagellation to. 
stimulate the return of the cardial movements, practice artificial respira~ 
tion, make tractions upon the tongue, and inject ether subcutaneously. 
The traumatic shock, lethargy, or stupor of the wounded is a condition 
of collapse which differs from syncope in the fact that the beatings of 
(*) a de Med. Vet. 1885, p. 220. 
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