EXTRACTS FROM EXCHANGES. 
843 ' 
Cagny agrees with Benjamin according to his observations — 
(Bui. de la Soc. Centr. de Med. Vet.) 
Etiology and Therapy of Parturient Paresis 
[Schmidt] .—After enumerating the well-known theories as to 
the cause of parturient paresis, Schmidt advances and adopts 
the following thesis .: “ Parturient paresis is produced by toxic 
products of metabolism, which are formed in the colostral milk 
and are introduced into the juices of the tissues. To prove this 
assertion, S. states that milk fever may come on before or after 
parturition, but never before the beginning of lactation 
and always only a few days after lactation began. Parturient 
paresis therefore is always in direct relation with the colostral 
milk.. The colostrum chiefly differs from the normal milk in 
containing considerably more protein substances, which en¬ 
titles the assumption, that the formation of the toxins in the 
colostral milk can be brought in connection with the oreat 
amount of proteids, and with the decomposition of these pro¬ 
tein substances. The resorption of the decomposed products 
brings about the paresis and the ceasing of the secretion of the 
milk gland. The infusion into the mammae results in the follow- 
mg: (i). A washing out of the toxins and the colostral milk ■ (2) 
prevention of the resorption of the toxins, and (3) stimulating 
the gland to secretion.— (Wochenschr. f Thierh .) 
Iodide of Potassium in Cirrhosis of the Eiver I 'Huber 
and Elseuj. The authors report 26 cases of this affection of 
which 11 were treated with.iodide of potassium. Out of those 
11 cases, 8 recovered, one died from traumatic pneumonia after 
the symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver had almost disappeared. 
The. two remaining cases were slaughtered. The treatment 
consisted of an injection of 30.0 grams of Eugol’s solution 
freshly prepared, repeated two, three or even four times at in¬ 
tervals of two or three days. A recovery may be expected, if 
after the injection a slight improvement in the sensorium’ is 
noticeable so that the patient will not submit to the second in¬ 
jection as quietly as when injected the first time. In one case 
after eight weeks there was a relapse of the disease, but the 
treatment was repeated and the animal recovered. These ob¬ 
servations prove that good results are obtained from the use of 
iodide of potassium in this affection, and it is certainly advisable 
to give this form of treatment a trial. It is also very important 
that the patients be taken in time for this treatment, and fur¬ 
thermore never neglect to notify the owner of the symptoms of 
lodism.—( IVoch. f. Thierh .) 
