884 SCOTTISH METROPOLITAN VETERINARY ASSOCIATION. 
the coats of the stomach. In the early stages, I think there can 
be no question as to the great benefit to be derived from the use 
of cathartic medicines. In the later stages there may be a doubt 
on this point, and I have often thought, “ what good can purgatives 
accomplish when the functions of the sympathetic nerve are in 
abeyance ?” but, again, I have had several cases in which coma 
disappeared with all the other bad symptoms, constipation alone 
remaining, which I could not overcome, and which ultimately 
caused the death of my patient. Mr. Kettle, of Market Drayton, 
tells me that he now never gives purgatives, and he is more 
successful in his treatment. But acknowledging that, as a rule, 
they cannot act until the bowels regain their normal condition, 
they must be of benefit by stimulating the peripheries of the 
nerves, and by guarding against the probability of constipation 
and inflammation after the other symptoms have been combated. 
If we have irritation of the uterus we must reduce that irritation. 
If the pulse is high, the lacteal secretion arrested, and the eye 
bright and prominent, but bowels regular, we must have recourse 
to sedatives, and, as the best of all, bleeding, and that fearlessly, 
followed up by neutral salts, aconite, and camphor, every two or 
three hours; or, if there is much excitement, a powerful dose of 
the hydrate of chloral, either alone or with opium.. Gentle en¬ 
forced exercise may be also of use, with friction to the extremi¬ 
ties, if required, and constant friction and the application of bel¬ 
ladonna in solution to the udder. The friction to the udder in this 
stage does good by stimulating the peripheries of the nerves, 
thus aiding in the restoration of their function and the preserva¬ 
tion of free circulation. In the other stages friction to the udder 
can be of little importance as all the secretions are in abeyance, 
and the milk, which some fancy they can press out, is only that 
which has been stored up in the ducts or loculi. No amount of 
friction will restore the natural functions of the gland-cells so 
long as the organic system of nerves is paralysed. Whilst having 
recourse to friction we should not forget to withdraw the milk as 
quickly as it is formed. The special action of belladonna is to 
relax the coats of the ducts, thus aiding in the free flow of their 
contents. The best friction we can have recourse to is the calFs 
mouth. In addition to these means we may also give diffusible 
stimulants and diuretics, as Sp. iEth. Nit. et Acet. Ammonise, 
especially if the skin is cold and dry and the secretion of urine 
scanty, and I have always found great benefit from the applica¬ 
tion of external stimuli to the loins, thereby causing revulsion of 
nervous energy. 
Second stage .—The first thing necessary to be observed in this 
stage is the placing of the patient in as favorable a position as 
possible to enable her to tide over the results of the attack, not to 
