16 
W. F. DERR. 
parturient collapse, puerperal fever, etc. Few diseases affecting 
animals have received a greater amount of attention or have given 
rise to more different opinions as to their nature than the malady 
to which we have given the designation of parturient apoplexy. 
Veterinary literature, as far as I can find, teems with the de¬ 
scriptions and discussions relative to the disease, and still most 
eminent pathologists are far from unanimous in their opinions as 
to the nature of the disease. The great number of names given 
it is evidence of the uncertainty which has prevailed and now 
prevails with regard to it. For instance, it has been called vitu- 
lary fever, vitulary apoplexy, vitulary paralysis, by the French, 
calbit feber by the Germans, milk fever, puerperal fever, partu¬ 
rient collapse and parturient apoplexy by the English speaking 
Pathology. 
A superabundance of blood in the system immediately after 
calving, which instead of producing, as in course of nature it 
should, proper support for its offspring, is retained in the system, 
surcharging the various vessels, from which the results are pressure 
on the brain and nerve centers, producing coma and, if not re¬ 
lieved, death. 
Gamgee, on this subject, considers that there is present in the 
blood a specific element that causes the malady. 
Some authorities attribute the disease to an accumulation of 
milk-producing elements in the blood, giving rise to fever, and 
blood-poisoning, to a sudden overloading the system with blood, 
causing nervous disorders. 
Finlay Dun describes it in following words : “ The large quan¬ 
tities of blood that have until the time of parturition been nour¬ 
ishing the calf, are diverted with their new channels for the pro¬ 
duction of milk. If at this critical period the bowels are consti¬ 
pated and the mammary gland does not at once take on its 
functions, this superabundance of blood soon becomes a source of 
mischief; it produces congestion and subsequently inflammation 
of the brain and nerve centers; serum is poured out, causing by 
its pressure impairment of motion, sensation arresting secretion 
and excretion, a sluggish and most imperceptible pulse, and slow 
and stertorous breathing.” 
