562 



THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



of iron may be useful, and that the external application of the 

 ointment of biniodide of mercury may also be of advantage. 

 The food should be of a nutritious and laxative nature. It may 

 be necessary to draw away the urine frequently with a catheter. 

 The affected parts should be well rubbed with the hand and 

 kept warm, if required, by the aid of clothing. 



.^r->t. 



k\ di^^^f^: 3 



Fig. 73. — Nervous Debility in Cows at the time of Parturition. 



The cow, as delineated in the above picture, is the subject of nervous debility, 

 occurring about the time of parturition. This is a malady due to the functional 

 •disorder alone, and it is not as a rule followed by death. Our artist has faith- 

 fully represented the characteristic appearances of this disease. The observer 

 will readily note, from the attitude of the cow, that she suffers from general 

 weakness and loss of nerve-power. She is represented as lying in a recumbent 

 posture in the field, but she has now no inclination for browsing on the grass 

 heside her, nor is she represented as chewing the cud — a usual sign of undis- 

 turbed health in the case of ruminating animals. She has no delight to move 

 leisurely in the luxuriant pasture, nor does the sweet woodland scenery attract 

 her gaze ; but she must needs lie down powerless, the vigorous activity of health 

 having left her — let us hope only for a short time, and that her health will be 

 restored after men have taken her with care and gentleness to a dry shed or 

 ox-stall, nicely bedded down with clean new straw, and then keeping her warm, 

 attending to every want, and administering such remedies as may be found 

 advisable. 



The next disease to which we come is that known by the 

 name of Adynamia nervosa generalis (Armatage). This is a 

 kind of nervous debility which affects cows during the later 

 period of pregnancy. The sufferer is unable to rise, is cold on 

 the surface of the body, has a weak pulse, and the bowels are 

 usually constipated. Possibly the malady may be engendered 

 by pressure on the posterior aorta, though it may be difficult to 



