PARTURIENT APOPLEXY. 535 



PARTURIENT APOPLEXY. 



This disease consists of a congested state of the brain 

 and spinal cord. As a rule it attacks the cow when she is 

 in her most vigorous milking condition, usually when she is 

 about six or seven years of age, and is in every case de- 

 pendent upon the act of parturition. It is asserted that 

 there is not a case on record of the disease occurring in a 

 primapara. The disease may be said to be almost peculiar 

 to the cow, being very rarely observed in any of the other 

 domesticated animals. It usually attacks the cow after the 

 l)irth of her second or third calf, most frequently the latter. 

 A^ery deep milkers are the most frequent sufferers. It is 

 one of the most serious and rapidly fatal diseases with 

 which the veterinarian has to deal. High feeding and a 

 plethoric condition of the animal immediately preceding 

 the act of parturition are undoubtedly powerful predis- 

 posing causes. Lack of exercise also exerts a certain 

 amount of influence in the production of parturient apo- 

 plexy. It invariably follows an easy parturition, and the 

 large amount of blood which after expulsion of the foetus 

 should go to make milk, instead of doing so, is thrown back 

 upon the system, and causing congestion of the brain and 

 spinal cord, gives rise to the various symptoms of parturient 

 apoplexy. In the State of Kentucky, U.S.A., where the 

 grasses are very fine, rich, and succulent, cows frequently suffer 

 from parturient apoplexy while at pasture and receiving no 

 other food. The disease is very rarely, if ever, observed to 

 occur in a debilitated or badly-fed cow; and it is said that it 

 never follows abortion. Sometimes the disease occurs just 

 before parturition, but such cases are extremely rare. It 

 usually follows the act of parturition, and is characterized 

 by the extreme rapidity with which it is developed. When 

 improvement begins in such cases as terminate in recovery, 



