PARTURIENT PARESIS. 
525 
cases of this affection, even if it assumes the worst type, the 
toxin exhibits a stronger affinity, now upon this, and then upon 
another organ ; also the temperature is at one time distinctly 
higher, at another equally lower than normal. The chemical 
combination of the toxin is therefore probably variable, so that 
now and then changes can occur in it, by which it can also have 
a variable poisonous effect upon the different organs, according 
to the preponderance of the one or the other form of toxin. 
When the cow, by all possible means, is brought to a high 
state of milk production, and thereby passes beyond the limit of 
physiological equilibrium either through the sudden diversion 
of the blood stream after calving or as a result of the existing 
condition, the equipoise can probably be destroyed by a trivial 
condition, through which the formation and absorption of toxins 
is increased or their neutralization and • discharge checked. 
Taking cold ” has long been recognized by practical experi¬ 
ence as one of the most important exciting causes ; to which 
we must add an over-abundant and excessively nutritive diet, 
and after birth, the drinking of excessive quantities of water or 
changes in food with the resultant digestive disturbances. Also 
the neutralizing functions of the liver become hereby lessened, 
while at the same time greater demands are placed upon it. 
According to the investigations of B. Boygild and V. Stein* 
it has been shown, that when the cows are turned into the pas¬ 
tures in autumn and are exposed to the cold as well as being 
put upon the succulent autumnal grasses, the butter possesses a 
very small amount of volatile acids, which is immediately im¬ 
proved to a degree, if the cows are stabled without a change of 
food (soiled) or still more, if allowed winter food at the same 
time. Since temperature as well as variations in diet can have 
an influence upon the constitution of the butter fat, the lacteal 
cells must be especially influenced by these factors. Heat and 
cold, light and darkness and their consequences, which influence 
the composition of the blood at the different seasons, I will only 
* Tidsskrift for Landokonomie, referirt von li. Faber in : Ugeskrift for Landmand 
Nr, i6, 1896. 
