930 Veterinary Obstetrics 



corded, only to have its existence or importance disputed by 

 others of equal authority. One finds hyperaemia of the brain, 

 and another anaemia of the brain, with the possibility that 

 either or both may be correct.* 



Handling, i. The essential therapeutics of parturient 

 paresis consists of the inflation of the udder with atmos- 

 pheric air or oxygen. So far as clinical experience reveals, it 

 is not material which of these is used. As soon as the patient 

 can be reached, and a definite diagnosis of parturient paresis 

 made, a sufficient volume of oxygen or atmospheric air should 

 be introduced into each quarter of the udder to quite thoroughly 

 distend all parts of the gland. In order to avoid the escape of 

 the air through the teat canal, it may sometimes be desirable to 

 apply temporarily a soft ligature near the end of the teat, which 

 is to be removed after the expiration of three or four hours. 



The ligature should preferably consist of a soft piece of tape, 

 which should be tied around the teat sufficiently tight to barely 

 prevent the injected air from escaping through the teat orifice. 

 If tied too tight, and allowed to remain for several hours, necrosis 

 of the teat follows. The ligature is to be closely watched, and 

 promptly removed whenever serious injury to the teat is threat- 

 ened. The danger might be very largely avoided if a long piece 

 of tape were used, and wound several times about the teat, from 

 the apex up-syards. Strips of adhesive plaster, applied directly 

 over the teat orifices and extended upward along the teat, would 

 probably fill all requirements and obviate pressure gangrene. 



The necessity for ligating the teat is very questionable. The 

 amount of gas injected is subject to no fixed rule. The udder 

 should be firmly distended. Usually the sphincters of the teats 

 will retain sufficient gas and permit any excess to escape. 

 Some believe that the greater the distension of the udder with 

 air, the more prompt and effective the treatment. Occasionally 

 this is overdone, and we have observed extensive emphysema of 

 the udder, thighs and croup from rupture of the mammary epith- 

 elium as a result of over-distension. No harm ensued. If the 



*For a full resume and discussion of the various theories of the nature of 

 parturient paresis, the reader is referred to the contribution of J. Schmidt, 

 Kolding, Monatshefte fiir Praktische Thierjieilkunde. Bd. IX., S. 241, a 

 translation of which appears in the Am. Vet. Review, Vol. 22, p. 392, Sept., 

 1898. 



