PARTURIENT APOPLEXY.— PARTURIENT COLLAPSE. 657 



studied it very carefully, is of opinion that it is identical with the eclampsia 

 of the human female, and considers that " parturient eclampsia " {^Ek- 

 lampsie in Folge der Geburt) is the best designation for it. He asserts 

 that to look upon it as a "fever" is a mistake, as a high temperature — 

 the sure sign of such a condition — is not present ; while to name it " calv- 

 ing-fever " is not quite exact, as it has been known to affect oxen and 

 other domesticated animals — though seldom. 



We shall, however, revert to this question presently 



Symptoms, 



The disease sets in suddenly after calving, and without any premonitory 

 symptoms. It may attack the Cow so early as twelve or twenty hours 

 after parturition, but it is most frequent on the second or third day, and 

 generally follows a rapid and an easy birth. It has, though very rarely, 

 manifested itself before parturition, and also during that act. It is seldom 

 that it appears after the third day ; though Harms says it may occur so 

 late as the tenth day ; Hess records an instance on the fourteenth day, 

 and a case has been witnessed in the fourth week ; while Gierer states 

 that he saw a Cow which offered all the symptoms of the disease seven 

 weeks after calving. 



In some instances, before the symptoms commence, the lacteal secre- 

 tion is either diminished or suspended. Generally, however, the first 

 indications are the Cow hanging back in the stall, or the head drooping ; 

 there is uneasiness, whisking of the tail, striking at the belly with the 

 hind feet ; the appetite is suddenly lost and rumination ceases ; the faeces 

 are hurriedly expelledj and the animal becomes indifferent to its calf. 

 There is often a shivering fit, but this is not followed by an increase of 

 temperature. In a few cases, congestion of the brain appears to be pres- 

 ent at the commencement ; as the Cow presses its head to "the wall or 

 leans against the stall-post, it bellows, looks stupid, its mouth is hot, the 

 eyes are reddened, and the eyelids wink, and it half unconsciously treads 

 with the hind feet. The respiration becomes hurried and plaintive, 

 though the pulse may be normal \ and if the animal is conscious, its 

 physiognomy expresses anxiety and suffering. Unsteadiness and stagger- 

 ing are manifested ; the animal can no longer stand, and it either lays 

 itself down, or falls on the floor 9f the stall. Then it may remain tran- 

 quil, merely moaning or bellowing, or striking with its feet at the belly as 

 if affected with colic, and making convulsive movements. Congestion of 

 the brain may be more or less marked ; the ears and horns may be warm- 

 er than natural, and in addition to the redness of the eyes, tears may flow 

 down the cheeks. 



All these changes may become developed in a very few hours; so that 

 an animal which was left in apparent good health only a short time be- 

 fore, is found lying, cannot get up, and is in a soporific condition. This 

 is the stage of the malady at which the veterinary surgeon is usually sent 

 for. 



Then he finds it lying tranquilly on its side, fully extended ; or, which 

 is far more frequent, resting on the sternum, and the head turned round 

 towards the shoulder or flank (fig. 206). This position of the head is 

 supposed to be due to contraction or tonic spasm of the cervical muscles 

 of one side of the neck. It is sometimes observed at the commencement 

 of the attack, even while the animal is standing. The neck is so rigidly 



42 



