PART ORIENT ECLAMPSIA AND PARTURIENT APOPLEXY. 498 
parturient eclampsia in mares,* and which provoked Dr. 
Butler’s criticism,f and which was characterized by intense 
tetanic convulsions, during which assuredly there was great 
tissue change and consequent heat production, we still observe 
no elevation of temperature, probably because of extraordinary 
perspiration, which certainly acted as a powerful refrigerant. 
Owing to the rudimentary condition of the sweat glands 
of the cow no such abundant cutaneous refrigeration is possi¬ 
ble in health or disease, but nature seems to guard this defect 
by a well marked disposition in this animal to coma, not alone 
in parturient apoplexy but in many bovine affections. So 
when parturient apoplexy has become established, in most 
cases coma rapidly comes on, heat-production (tissue change) 
ceases, all excretions become suspended and respiration and 
circulation are carried on at a minimum rate compatible with 
life—a condition analogous in many respects to profound 
sleep or hybernation—so that a cow may lie hovering between 
life and death for several days, yet when recovery takes place 
no evident loss in weight or condition has ensued. 
It certainly seems that with the defective means possessed 
by the cow for prompt discharge of surplus body heat, coma 
serves a highly economic use, and that without this provision 
and with the existing condition of the skin we would be com¬ 
pelled to record a much higher temperature and fatality in 
parturient apoplexy. 
In emphasizing his statement that in parturient apoplexy 
in cows the pulse is slow, in contradistinction to the rapid pulse 
in eclampsia of woman, he takes occasion to say, “ My state¬ 
ment is, I am aware, antagonistic to the ‘ authorities,’ ” and 
proceeds to aver that the authorities are wrong. This con¬ 
clusion is based upon his personal observation and that of a 
few friends—a very illogical basis, exhibiting marked incred¬ 
ulity toward his fellow veterinarians. Because Dr. Butler 
has not observed a quickened pulse in parturient apoplexy 
is not sufficient grounds for practically asserting that Fleming, 
* Am. Yet. Review, December, 1890. 
t Ibid, July, 1890. 
