DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 563 



see why obstruction to the circulation in the hind limbs should 

 cause nervous adynamia of the whole system. The affection 

 often persists after parturition has taken place ; but this may be 

 explained on the idea that the disordered state of the blood- 

 supply must take some tims to be set quite right again. The 

 disease may be owing to the foetus requiring a great deal of 

 nutritive material from the mother. 



Treatment. — The bowels must be kept open by means of 

 the administration of enemas, the surface of the body must 

 be kept warm, and the strength of the patient must be sus- 

 tained, so far as is possible. It is also rather beneficial that 

 stimulating applications should be rubbed along the back. 



A disease to which the name of Cerehro-i^pinal Meningitis 

 has been given may come on in the cow several days after 

 calving, the patient being free from coma, and not assuming the 

 recumbent posture at all. The bowels may be but slightly 

 deranged, or the sufferer may be troubled with a fetid diarrhoea. 

 .The secretion of milk, the excretion of urine, voluntary mus- 

 jular power, and sensation are not interfered with. The patient 

 lay die of apoplexy about four and a half days after the com- 

 Imencement of the malady, or may gradually recover. If the 

 [nerve-structures are examined after death, effusion and extrava- 

 sation of serum and blood are found on the meninges and spinal 

 fcord. 



Stringhalt is a disease well known among horsemen as affect- 

 ing horses. A similar condition has been described as attacking 

 >xen, and in one instance it is recorded that a number of animals 

 [were afflicted with this disorder apparently as a result of giving 

 Ithem burnt ale with their food. 



Milk fever, or parturient apoplexy^ is a disease which may 

 [pccur in the cow generally within three days after calving, though 

 it is said to come on before parturition, and even several weeks 

 kfter that event. The fever most frequently manifests itself 

 tftfter an easy delivery, in warm weather, in plethoric animals, 

 in good milkers, and in old animals seldom before the third 

 [<jalf, and most generally after the fifth. In those cows which 

 lave once suffered from this serious disorder it is very likely to 

 )me on again. 



A short time after delivery has taken place, the cow shows a 

 'restlessness, raises first one hind-foot and then the other, 



36 * 



