662 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



ment of the malady. The aDimal becomes blown up with wind, 

 more and more comatose, and at length death closes the scene. 

 In some cases, especially if the animal be well managed and 

 treated, recovery may be hoped for. There is, however, danger 

 of a relapse, and with the view of obviating this risk so far as 

 may be possible, the patient should be most carefully attended 

 to, and also occasionally turned, in order that it may not lie for 

 too long upon the same side. After death the veins may be 

 seen to be distended with black blood, and there are petechise 

 on various serous membranes. The brain and spinal cord show 

 congestion and extravasation of blood. The viscera are healthy, 

 but the vessels of the brain are full of blood, that organ being 

 intensely congested. In some cases to such an extent has this 

 been carried that the walls have given way. In these cases a 

 clot of blood may be found pressing on the brain, and on account 

 of this pressure the fatal result may have been brought about. 

 There may also be an effusion of serous fluid either between the 

 membranes of the brain, or within the ventricles. 



It is difficult to say what is the cause of the disease. It is 

 thought by some to be due to encephalic anaemia. On the 

 other hand, the coma, delirium, and convulsions, are probably 

 due to congestion of the brain and spinal cord. The removal of 

 the offspring from the mother seems to bring on milk-fever, 

 and hence it looks as if the presence in the blood of matters 

 which ought to have been expelled from it by the medium of 

 the milk has a great deal to do with the disease. 



In regard to treatment, it may first be said that it is well to 

 allow a cow to take a little gentle exercise during the few days 

 before delivery is expected to take place, to avoid plethora, and 

 perhaps to give a gentle cathartic draught. If called to a cow 

 suffering from the early stages of the disease, the veterinarian 

 will probably extract blood at this early stage, or not at all. In 

 the case of a plethoric animal which has not fallen, bleeding 

 may do good. In the first stages we may bleed, administer 

 aperients and sedatives, and apply counter-irritation to the spine. 

 Stimulants are very useful, and, as an example of these, we may 

 mention sesquicarbonate of ammonium. Some persons advise 

 persistent affusion of the spine with cold water, and will probably 

 administer a full cathartic dose, at whatever stage they find the 

 patient. A. coinbination of sulphate of magnesium and solution 



