268 THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



MILK FEVER OR PARTURIENT APOPLEXY 



May occur in three days after calving, though it is said 

 to come on before calving, and even several weeks after- 

 ward. It often manifests itself after an easy delivery, in 

 warm weather, in plethoric subjects, in good milkers, 

 and in old animals; seldom before the third calf; usu- 

 ally after the fifth. A cow that once suffers is liable to 

 suffer again. 



Symptoms. — Restless; raises first one hind foot then 

 the other, but not disposed to walk ; if forced to do so, 

 staggers ; appetite lost ; no milk ; eyes stare ; hind limbs 

 give way ; falls ; eyes now bloodshot, protruded, and in- 

 sensible to touch ; general loss of sensation and voluntary 

 motion ; pulse full, soft, slow, but as disease progresses 

 becomes faster, smaller, and finally imperceptible ; breath- 

 ing slow and after a time stertorous ; mucous membranes 

 purple ; head and horns hot ; perhaps delirious ; head 

 pitched about, or the animal may lapse into a state of 

 coma ; bowels and urinary organs stopped ; belly swollen 

 with wind, &c. 



Remedy. — Bleed. Purge with Epsom salt, 12 to 16 

 oz., powdered ginger, \ oz., in pint warm water. Draft: 

 Carbonate ammonium, 4 drams, powdered ergot, 1 oz., 

 whisky or brandy, 6 oz., in pint warm water, every 4 

 hours. Inject ergotin hypodermically — 15 or 20 grains. 

 Rub spine with liniment of ammonia, 1 j)art, compound 

 liniment of camphor, 1 part. Don't use liniment of bel- 

 ladonna. Apply wet pack or ice bag to head. Milk reg- 

 ularly. Draw urine with catheter. Digestible, laxative 

 food. 



Cows sometimes suffer with a kind of general nerv- 

 ous debility during the latter period of pregnancy. They 

 are unable to rise, the body is cold, the pulse weak, and 

 bowels usually constipated, The disorder may persist after 

 delivery* 



