PARTURIENT APOPLEXY. 
261 
3 reason that post-mortem examinations indicated no adequate 
ise of death. McDonald has published the results of several 
st-rnoiterns made in the case of women who died in puerperal 
ampsia, and found the nerve centers in a condition of extreme 
BGmia, while the meninges were somewhat congested. I have 
r self made several autopsies upon cows that died with the same 
tory, and in every example tire brain was found bloodless. I 
y lemaik at this point that in what is usually called impaction 
the stomach, where death results, post-mortem shows a similar 
jearance of the brain substance. I have verified this in a nuro¬ 
of instances and regard the essential pathological condition 
3 of anaemia. Linking together the theories of Traube and 
eenstein and McDonald and Tyler Smith, we may evolve from 
! whole an hypothesis founded in science and competent to 
)lain every phenomena of the disorder. By the phrase par- 
ient apoplexy I wish to express the conception of a morbid 
te of the cerebro-spinal centers induced by primary irritation 
the reproductive system. The same phenomena may ensue 
jou irritation originating in the gastro-intestinal and urinary 
terns, but for the purposes of this paper it will sufhou to dis- 
s only (except in an incidental way) the genito-urinary system 
starting points for this affection. In recent times the studies 
the pathology of the ganglionic nervous system have thrown 
eh light upon these complex questions of parturient pathology, 
e phenomena of motor disturbance and sense aberration arise 
h from centric and eccentric causes. Conceding this proposi- 
h which is attested by ample clinical experience, the question 
ses, what is the modus operandi of these phenomena? We are 
much aided in this explanation by the written or unwritten 
liology of the past. Empiricism and traditions afford the only 
! und stones to build upon. Writers of veterinary pathology 
e contributed but little to the elucidation of this subject, 
i dical text-books and journals abound in statements which are 
warranted by the researches of science, nor supported by the 
c of analogy. The conflicting opinions still entertained re¬ 
ding its essential nature evidence the fact that it requires the 
it of additional study thrown upon it to bring it within the 
