DISEASES OF CATTLE 129 



tion to move about; the head may be pressed against the wall or 

 fence and the legs kept moving, as if the animal were endeavoring 

 to walk through the obstruction ; the body, especially the hind part, 

 may be leaned against the side of the stall or stable, as if for support. 

 The bowels are constipated ; the urine, when passed, is small in quan- 

 tity and darker in color than natural. There may be trembling and 

 even spasms of muscles in different parts. In the dull stage the ani- 

 mal may breathe less frequently than is natural, and each breath 

 may be accompanied with a snoring-like sound. The pulse may be 

 large and less frequent than normal. If suddenly aroused from the 

 drowsy state, the animal appears startled and stares wildly. When 

 moving about it may stagger, the hind quarters swaying from side 

 to side. 



If delirium ensues, the cow is commonly said to be mad. She 

 may bellow, stamp her feet, run about wildly, grate the teeth, froth 

 at the mouth. If she is confined in the stable, she rears and plunges ; 

 the convulsions are so violent in many instances that it is really dan- 

 gerous for one to attempt to render aid. The body may be covered 

 with perspiration. She may fall ; the muscles twitch and jerk ; often 

 the head is raised and then dashed against the ground until blood 

 issues from the nose and mouth; the eyes may be bloodshot and 

 sightless; the limbs stiff and outstretched, or they may be kicked 

 about recklessly; the head may be drawn back and the tail drawn 

 tip; the urine may be squirted out in spurts; often the washer (mem- 

 brane nictitans) is forced over the eye. When the convulsions cease 

 they may be followed by a period of quiet unconsciousness (coma) 

 which is more or less prolonged, when the animal may gradually re- 

 gain consciousness, get up on its feet, and perhaps quietly partake of 

 food, if there be any within reach, while at other times it arises with 

 much difficulty and staggers blindly about the stall or field. 



It must be remembered that all the foregoing symptoms are not 

 always seen in the same case. In those cases usually designated 

 sleepy staggers the general symptoms of drowsiness are presented, 

 while in other cases the symptoms of frenzy cause the affection to be 

 called mad staggers. In other cases there are symptoms of paralysis, 

 swaying of the hind quarters, inability to rise, etc., and sometimes 

 these symptoms of paralysis are the most striking manifestations and 

 continue until death. Acute cases are accompanied by fever. 



It is well to remark that when the disease follows injuries to the 

 head the symptoms may not be manifested until two or three days 

 (or longer) after the accident. 



Treatment. Recoveries are rare in spite of careful attention. 

 To be of any service whatever the treatment must be prompt and be- 

 gin with the disease. In the early stage when the pulse is large most 

 cases will admit of bleeding. Eight or nine quarts of blood should 

 be taken from the jugular vein. This should be followed imme- 

 diately by a purgative, the following for a cow of average size : Ep- 

 som salts, 24 ounces ; pulverized gamboge, one-half ounce ; croton on, 

 20 drops ; warm water, 3 quarts ; mix all together and give at once as 

 a drench. About 2 quarts of warm water or warm soapsuds should 



