PARTURIENT APOPLEXY IN COWS. 315 



vent the disease, not only from its great fatality in a first 

 attack, but from the predisposition which is engendered. 



Cows that give an enormous quantity of milk are very sub- 

 ject to the disease, if in good condition, and, cceteris paribus, 

 the malady will be most severe in the finest and best animals 

 in. a stock. 



The symptoms of dropping after calving are unmistake- 

 able. Usually within twenty-four hours after parturition 

 the animal totters, appears weak in her hind legs, and falls. 

 A staring look, suspended animation, checked secretion of 

 milk, are usually noticed before the cow drops. When down, 

 the fixed and blood-shot appearance of the eye is also con- 

 nected with a peculiar twitching of the eyelids; the ears, 

 horns, and forehead become intensely hot, and the animal 

 either sinks into a perfect state of stupor or coma, or 

 dashes about violently, and is in danger of knocking off her 

 horns. 



It is evident, at an early period of the disease, that the ani- 

 mal is blind the nerves of vision are paralysed, and the 

 pupils are widely dilated. If fluids are poured into the 

 mouth, they are at first swallowed, but deglutition soon be- 

 comes imperfect. 



The discharge of excrement is stopped, no urine flows, 

 and constipation is a very marked sign. The disturbance of 

 the digestive organs is soon indicated by the disengagement 

 of gas in the stomach, and the belly swells rapidly, so as to 

 interfere considerably with the breathing. If the animal is 

 lying on the left side, the oppression is greater than if she is 

 on her right side. 



From the commencement of the disease, the pulse is full 

 and rapid, and the breathing is frequent. The throbbing of 

 the temporal arteries, prominence of the veins of the head 

 and neck, indicate the determination of blood to the head. 



