Parturient paresis and eclampsia. 



43 



have had ample opportunity to study the finer pathological changes 

 in three guinea pigs which died in five, six and seven days under 

 the influence of the toxin of parturient paresis. We have also 

 observed these changes in another guinea pig, which received a 

 smaller dose of the toxin, the dose not being sufficient to cause 

 death in ten days and therefore he was chloroformed. The patho- 

 logical findings in these guinea pigs correspond in every way to 

 the characteristic lesions of eclampsia, namely, there was hemor- 

 rhagic necrosis of the liver, acute parenchymatous nephritis with 

 interstitial hemorrhages, degeneration of the cells of the adrenal 

 cortex, with interstitial hemorrhages, and destruction of the 

 medullary portion. These experiments were fully controlled in 

 every detail by means of guinea pigs injected with normal salt 

 solution, fresh milk, fresh normal colostrum and fresh, normal, 

 cow's urine. The control pigs all remaining alive and well at the 

 present time, with the exception of the normal urine pig, which 

 was chloroformed at the end of seven days and on post mortem 

 found normal. 



The modern treatment of parturient paresis is most remarkable 

 in its result. The mortality has been reduced from 60 per cent, 

 to less than I per cent. It was introduced by J. Schmidt, of 

 Kolding, Denmark, and was based upon the theory that the disease 

 was due to bacterial invasion of the udder. The treatment con- 

 sists of acute dilatation of the udder by means of oxygen or 

 sterile air. 



That the disease is due to a toxin elaborated in the udder as 

 the result of its own metabolism preceding normal milk production, 

 there can be no reasonable doubt, and that the success of the 

 modern treatment is due to preventing, by means of pressure, the 

 absorption of this toxin, seems most highly probable. 



We are of the opinion that eclampsia is due to a similar toxin, 

 elaborated by the breast in a similar manner, and would strongly 

 recommend, as the most promising treatment, dilatation of the 

 breasts with oxygen or sterile air, or forcible compression of them 

 by means of a properly applied bandage, after they have been 

 emptied by means of the breast pump, and at the same time using 

 whatever medical measures may be indicated. 



We, ourselves, shall thoroughly test this method of treatment 

 as soon as the opportunity occurs. 



