Parturition Fever, etc. 311 



restlessness, bellowing, throwing the head to right and left, 

 grinding the teeth, sucking the tongue, salivation, licking of cer- 

 tain parts of the body, spasms in the neck, back or limbs, and 

 prompt recover}', or lapse into the comatose condition as above 

 described. It proved less fatal than the ordinary comatose type, 

 but seems to depend on similar conditions. 



Prognosis. Mortality. The disease is very deadly, the mor- 

 tality in time past having reached 40, 50 or even 60 per cent., 

 the gravity increasing as the disease set in nearer to parturition. 

 Cases occurring on the first or second da}' wereniostl}' fatal, 

 those at the end of the first week were hopeful, and those occur- 

 ring during the second week were very hopeful. Witli the 

 Schmidt (iodine) treatment the mortality is claimed to be reduced 

 to 16 or 17 per cent. 



Prevention. Measures directed toward the lessening of 

 plethora tend to remove one of the most fruitful causes of the 

 disease and though not invariably successful, are yet of great 

 value. The most direct is the abstraction of blood in the last fort- 

 night of pregnancy, to the extent of 6 or 8 quarts. This tends 

 to secure a lessening of the blood tension, and blood density, but 

 there is the drawback of a created tendency to a subsequent in- 

 crease in blood formation to make up the loss. This measure 

 should be reserved for cows that are very plethoric, extra heavy 

 milkers and such as have already suffered from the disease. 



Purgatives will measurably secure the same end without the 

 same degree of danger. One to two pounds of Epsom or Glauber 

 .salts in the last week of gestation, or at latest when labor pains 

 set in, tend not only to remove solid or impacted masses from the 

 first and third stomachs, and inspissated contents from the large 

 intestines, but to secure a free depletion from the portal system. 

 If not before, this should always be given immediately after 

 parturition to cows in extra high condition, heavy milkers, and 

 that have had a short and easy delivery. 



Restrictio7i of food for a week before and as long after parturi- 

 tion is of equal importance. A very limited supply of aqueous, 

 easily digested, and laxative food (roots, .sloppy bran mashes, 

 fresh grass, ensilage) will meet the demand. 



Exercise iti the open air is of great value in giving tone to the 

 muscles, and especially the nervous .system, and in stimulating 

 the enunctories and other functions. 



