790 Railroad Sickness of Cows, 



milk fever. The syndrome sometimes stands in causal relation to manmiitis, 

 (Lungwitz, Otto, Zehl) or nervous symptoms similar to those occurring 

 in milk fever arise exceptionally as a result of overloading of the rumen, 

 atony of the first 3 stomachs, or necrosis of the liver, and these appear- 

 ances may affect bulls or hulloeks as well as cows (see pages 25)]; 269; 

 529). IMore frequently, however, a primary onset of the affection is noted 

 in good milking animals. In such cases it has frequently been noted that a 

 one-sided feeding, with much concentrated material like cottonseed-meal, 

 brewers' grains, clover, hay, etc., is capable of giving rise to a clinical pic- 

 ture similar to parturient paresis (Hansen, Rasmussen, Seiderer, Meier, 

 Gratia ). Whether the last mentioned causes form the foundation of 

 the primary cases hitherto noticed or whether other causes play a role 

 remains undecided. — To all appearances the affection maybe considered 

 as due to an intoxication. 



The treatment is similar to that pursued in parturition paralysis, 

 and has as a rule about the same result. 



Literature. Gratia, Ann., 1904, 387.— Giniesis, Bull., 1905, 62.— Hansen, Maa- 

 nedsskr., 1905, XVTI, 177.— Lnngwitz, S. B., 1895, 97.— Meier B. t. W., 1904, 89.— 

 Otto, S. B., 1899, 87.— Easnuissen, Maanedskr., 1905, XYll, 270.— Seiderer, W. f. Tk., 

 1905, 21.— Zehl, B. t. W., 1906, 297. 



Railroad Sickness of Cows. (Socalled emptiness of the rumen, rail- 

 road fever.) By this name a peculiar diseased condition, similar to that 

 seen in milk fever, is designated, which occurs often in cows that are 

 far advanced in calf, and also in well fattened animals during or after 

 a long continued transport by rail. Voigtlander first recorded it, and 

 later it has been observed by Weigel, Roder, Konig, Noack, Estor, Vil- 

 lagio, Otto and Steffani. Recently Schmidt has been occupied with a 

 careful study of the disease. 



Etiology. Of the causes of the illness it is only established that it 

 is connected ^^^th long sojourn and standing in crowded and hot railway 

 cars without food and water. Thus Estor and Schmidt noted the illness 

 almost exclusively during the period from April to September, or after 

 a railway journey lasting over 24 hours. Further, pregnancy is of 

 special importance and according to Schmidt a railway journey under- 

 taken by cattle immediately after being brought up from pasturing has 

 an effect in producing the illness, and he has observed it only occasionally 

 where cows have been previously stabled. 



Voigtlander believes that an empty rumen is the cause, whilst Estor assumes 

 also an exhaustion with the accumulation in the system of the products of fatigue re- 

 sulting in autointoxication. According to Yillagio the disease is primarily a muscular 

 affection with secondary nerve trouble. 



Schmidt declares the pathogenesis of the illness to be as follows: 

 As a consequence of the increased muscular activity during railway 

 transport, there results an increased flow of blood to the muscular tissue 

 of the extremities and of the body, in advanced pregnant ani- 

 mals, also to the uterus and udder, in consequence the amount of 

 blood in the other organs diminishes. Anemia then develops in these 

 organs and is increased by the fact that the blood vessels of the skin 

 dilate and the amount of blood in the liody diminishes considerably, 

 because on the one hand no water is taken up and on the other hand 

 an increased output of water occurs. If this condition lasts more than 



