APOPLEXY PEOM CONGESTION'. 523 



SEMIOLOGY. 



In many instances the symptoms appear suddenly, and with 

 great violence, the disease running its course, and terminating 

 fatally in a short period, but most commonly there are some 

 premonitory signs. The secretion of milk is stopped, the cow 

 hangs its head, ceases to feed, and paddles with its hind feet. 

 By-and-by the breathing becomes hard and rapid; it sways 

 from side to side ; the hind legs double at the fetlocks, and 

 at last it falls. The eyes are blood-shot, in some cases wild 

 and staring; the eye-lids twitch spasmodically, and an abun- 

 dant flow of tears runs over the cheeks. The ears, horns, and 

 forehead are now intensely hot ; the animal lies either in a state 

 of perfect stupor or coma, or dashes itself violently about ; the 

 head is thrown from side to side, and there is danger of the 

 horns being knocked off. 



In some cases the nose rests firmly upon the ground, and if 

 the head is lifted up, it will fall back like some lifeless body; 

 at other times the head is brought back to the side, where it 

 remains firmly pressed against the shoulder or neck. There is 

 often a disposition to lie upon the side, in which case the neck 

 is stretched out, and the limbs extended, the eyes glassy, and the 

 mouth open ; tympanites soon sets in, and the cow will die in 

 a very short time if its position be not altered. Very early in 

 the disease the power of vision is lost, the eyes being amaurotic ; 

 the power of swallowing is also lost, or very imperfectly retained. 

 The cow may remain in tliis condition for several hours, pro- 

 vided it is made to lie, by packing, in the natural position on 

 the sternum, evincing but few signs of life, except the act of 

 breathing, which is generally stertorous ; now and then there is 

 emitted a gurghng sound of gas and fluid regurgitated from the 

 rumen. 



The pulse, which at first is generally full, and more or less 

 accelerated, becomes small, quick, and almost imperceptible; the 

 breathing is more and more difficult ; in some cases convulsions 

 set in, whilst in others death occurs from a gradual sinking of 

 the vital powers ; the sphincters are paralyzed, the mouth open, 

 and the breathing partially oral, with puffing of the cheeks at 

 every expiratory act. 



In some instances the symptoms of delirium are very violent ; 



