OBSTETRICS 241 



patient becomes restless and anxious ; the eyes stare 

 and respirations are increased; the mucous mem- 

 branes are injected; muscular twitchings make their 

 appearance, and the patient falls down and is un- 

 able to rise. The patient then lies on her side with 

 stiffened legs, the muscles becoming hard and tense, 

 quivering at intervals. Clonic convulsions of all the 

 muscles occur, especially those of the extremities ; 

 -the respiratory muscles are also largely involved, 

 in consequence of which the respirations become 

 quickened and labored ; the mouth opens, and the 

 tongue protrudes and appears greatly enlarged. All 

 visible mucous membranes are cyanosed ; the pulse 

 is small, hard, and rapid, and the temperature is 

 normal or subnormal. The eyes are staring and 

 the expression anxious, but consciousness persists 

 throughout. 



The mamm^ become flaccid and the secretion of 

 milk is suppressed. Rigidity of the extremities is 

 one of the most prominent phenomena, the joints 

 being flexed only with great difficulty. In untreated 

 cases, coma supervenes before death. 



Treatment. — Narcotic and antispasmodic agents 

 are indicated and should be combined with elimina- 

 tive treatment. The line of treatment giving the 

 best result in the author's hands is as follows : 



Give hypodermically three H-M-C tablets (No. 1) 

 to a bitch the size of a fox terrier and five tablets 

 (No. 1) to one of the size of a collie. Induce anes- 

 thesia with chloroform by the drop method, keeping 

 it up until the H-M-C has taken efifect. The patient 

 being completely relaxed, give hypodermically one 

 twentieth grain of veratrin hydrochlorid. 



Repeat the H-M-C as often as necessary to control 

 the spasms, always pushing it to effect regardless 

 of dosage. A brisk purge should be given as soon as 

 the patient is able to swallow, one to three grains 



