CORRESPONDENCE. 
365 
treated in the minutest detail in the manner given by Schmidt. 
The ones that presented complications had, of course, to receive 
extra attention. 
No. i. Parturient paresis, with inversion of the womb_ 
death. 
No. 2. Parturient paresis—death. 
No. 3. Parturient paresis, inversion of the womb, half udder 
gangrenous—death. 
No. 4. Parturient paresis—death. 
No. 5. Parturient paresis—recovery. 
No. 6. Parturient paresis—death. 
No. 7. Parturient paresis—recovery. 
In the two cases recorded as recovering, the results seemed 
to be astonishingly good, as both patients regained their feet in 
seven and eight hours respectively. The question which I have 
rom the first asked myself is, why do we administer this iodine 
solution by the way of the lactiferous ducts ? It does, indeed 
seem a somewhat laborious way of administration. Does it not 
have to enter the circulation before it can act ? and would it not 
be far more quickly absorbed if given in the ordinary manner ? It 
is of course unquestioned that the milk secretion can be checked 
by the internal administration of iodide of potash. Is it not a 
fact that hours after the introduction of this solution by way of 
the mammary gland there is still quantities of it left there ? Of 
course, to the majority of our clients this seems to be the most 
direct method of doing good, for its name (milk fever) would 
suggest to them local medication, but to a medical doctor, should 
we have occasion to treat a case of this disease for him, what 
answer should we make if he asked the question, why not give 
your solution by the ordinary channels ? has it not to enter^the 
circulation ? 
I . 4 
As to the cause of parturient paresis, Schmidt’s theory, I be- 
leve, of the origin of this disease is in an abnormal secretion 
of colostrum, If this be so, how then can we account for cases 
occuning anywhere from two to eight weeks or even twice that 
length of time after parturition ? Surely 110 one would suggest 
that the mammary glands contain colostrum at so late a *date. 
I have had in my practice cases from two to five weeks after 
calving, and, is it possible, nearly six months after? I will leave 
you to judge. A short time ago I was called early one morning 
to see a cow, a registered tested Jersey, that presented all the 
symptoms of parturient paresis. She was lying resting 011 her 
sternum with head turned around towards the flank. She 
