408 DISEASES OF THE GENITAL ORGANS. * 



not always easy to solve it. The meat must be rejected when com- 

 ing from animals affected by any septic trouble of the uterus which 

 has become generalized, for it might give rise in man to mycotic or 

 septic enteritis or other poisoning by the substances it contains 

 (botulism). We must proceed in the same way in all cases where 

 the paresis of parturition is complicated by a septic infection. In. 

 simple forms of paralytic parturition fever the meat is less danger- 

 ous; nevertheless, the frequency of the serious alterations which 

 accompany these, and the similarity of the paretic symptoms observed 

 in man, in cases of botulism, with those of parturition fever, are 

 facts which, in our opinion, call for the greatest reserve concerning 

 the use of the flesh of animals affected with this disease as alimen- 

 tation for human beings. So far, it has not been demonstrated 

 that such toxic results have been produced, but nevertheless the 

 carcasses of such animals ought not to be considered available for 

 consumption. 



II. Paresis of Parturition (Toxic or Paralytic Form of 

 Parturition Fever). 



Paresis of parturition is particularly observed in the cow : the 

 absence of a maternal placenta, of a natural uterine wound after 

 parturition, constitute the evident cause of the frequency of this dis- 

 ease in the bovine race : the uterine mucous membrane, which is 

 generally intact, allows only dissolved toxic matters to penetrate. 

 The same is the case with the goat, which is quite frequently 

 affected by this form of parturition fever. It is generally found in 

 the sow. Good milch cows, which are well fed, great eaters, fat, 

 and subjected to a liberal regimen before parturition, and which are 

 kept in permanent stabling, are much exposed to the affection ; this 

 predisposition becomes very evident from the frequency of the dis- 

 ease among our good races (the Holland and other flat country 

 races), and by its infrequency in animals kept on pasture, as well 

 as in those of countries where little milk is produced. It is remark- 

 able that paresis of parturition is mostly observed after rapid and 

 easy calving; it is very rare in primipara ; in these, calving is 

 always laborious and the uterus is contracted more quickly and 

 with more power than in ulterior calvings. The cow is generally 

 affected at the third, fourth, and fifth delivery (Haycock; statistics 

 of Bavarian veterinarians). The most numerous cases coincide 

 with great heat spells of summer and abrupt changes of tempera- 



