PARTURIENT ECLAMPSIA IN THE MARE. 
561 
and the muscles of her limbs so rigid that they could not be 
flexed sufficiently to raise her upon her chest. She suc¬ 
cumbed a few hours later, and no autopsy was made, the case 
being attributed to some occult cerebral affection due to the 
parturient state. 
The second case I am able to recall occurred some two 
years later, the subject being a high grade draft mare, used 
exclusively for breeding purposes, and aged about five or 
six years. 
The mare was quite large, very robust in appearance, had 
foaled five to ten days previously without difficulty, and the 
foal at her side was very vigorous and well nourished. 
1 found the mare lying apparently quiet on her sternum, 
showing no evidence of suffering, and looking quite bright 
and healthy. 
Upon approaching her, however, she showed marked 
nervousness, and at once tried to get up, but appeared to have 
lost the power of co-ordination ; was quite weak, and her 
efforts brought on clonic spasms of a severe character, her 
hind legs knuckling at the pasterns, much as in azoturia. 
During my stay she became more nervous and uneasy, 
making repeated unsuccessful attempts to rise; respirations 
rapid and laborious, constant and severe Cramps of the entire 
body, tremblings and profuse perspiration, all of which ap¬ 
peared to decrease in intensity when we would withdraw and 
permit her to become more tranquil. 
The passage of the catheter increased the convulsions 
quite markedly, there apparently being hyperassthesia of the 
vulva, probably of the body generally. 
I diagnosed azoturia, and prognosticated a favorable ter¬ 
mination. Later observations have shown me that mares 
with young foals do not, or rather can not, contract azoturia; 
besides, the fact that the mare had been running at grass con¬ 
stantly, precluded the possibility of that disease. I might 
point out further differences, but these two essential facts in 
the history of the case are sufficient to show that I erred in 
my diagnosis, and the early death of the animal showed an 
equal error in prognosis. 
