160 



looks anxiously after the calf ; the gate is unsteady ; the 

 knees appear weak and the hind quarters rock from side 

 to side, and the hind feet are awkardly lifted and re- 

 placed one after another in order to regain equilibrum. 

 This is the treading act sometimes noticed. The tail also 

 swings back and forth, following the motion of the body. 

 The temperature is now 102-103°, the normal being 101°. 

 Pulse only slightly accelerated, full strong and regular. 



In the course of half an hour the cow staggers, bellows, 

 walks blindly against objects, anld, at times, tries to 

 mount the manger. The hind feet are lifted high and 

 awkardly, ape^iring to strike at the abdomen. She 

 stumbles over objects and falls completely or only to 

 the knees, but rises again. The eyes wander, appear 

 wild and glassy or peculiarly lusterless, the rays ap- 

 pear to be reflected rather than transmitted. The head 

 hangs pendant from the withers and is disposed to 

 swing far to one or the other side. The animal seems to 

 lose her balance and falls ; falls with the limbs sprawled 

 as if under the influence of an intoxicant. She is now 

 unable to rise again to her feet, but at times, seeming to 

 recover, momentarily from a torpor, an effort is made 

 to rise. The result is characteristic. The cow comes to 

 her knees, but the effort of the hind limbs to bear up 

 the posterior part of the body overbalances the equili- 

 brum at the front and the cow tumbles a half length for- 

 ward. The pulse is now rapid, weak and irregular ; tem- 

 perature uncertain, but may be 103-105° ; head and horns 

 are said to be hot ; membranes of the eye red and tears 

 flow freely. The sphincter muscles at the anus relaxes ; 

 heat radiates from the part and rectal temperatures be- 

 come less and less reliable. 



After a varying period the torpor passes into complete 

 coma. The cow lies on her breast with her head turned 



