Chapter IV. 



SOME CONDITIONS INCIDENTAL TO 

 PREGNANCY. 



Some of the conditions may be alluded to merely 

 by name : Pica, or depraved appetite, constipation, 

 ■vomiting, colic, amaurosis, albuminuria, cough, mam- 

 ■mitis, hysteria, eclampsia, and cramp. 



Hydrops Amnii. 



Here the amniotic fluid is in excess, and, by 

 pressure or tension, may cause death of the foetus, and 

 sometimes also the parent, from injury to the uterine 

 walls. This condition may be brought about by an 

 impoverished condition of the blood, with transudation 

 •of its watery constituents, resulting in dropsy. 



The membrane should be punctured with a trocar 

 and canula, to allow escape of the excess of fluid, and if 

 abortion supervene, the cavity should be washed out 

 Tvrith antiseptics and astringents. It is possible, 

 however, for the full period of gestation to be 

 -completed, after withdrawal of the excess of fluid, 

 should the wound in the membranes close. 



The dietary and medicinal treatment is similar to 

 that suggested in " Hydrops Uteri." 



Rachitis and Osteomalacia. 



Softening or fragility of the bones has been 



■observed, especially in young pregnant animals. The 



48 



