PARALYSIS OF GESTATION 101 



tration per se does not entirely explain this paralysis, other 

 auxiliary causes, as voluminous but little nutritious food, 

 assists in rendering it difficult or even impossible for the cow to 

 rise. 



Symptoms. — The disease sets in two to five days, at times 

 earlier, even fourteen days, before parturition. These cases 

 occurring several weeks before birth depend probably on other 

 causes. At times certain premonitory symptoms, as weakness 

 of the posterior extremities, paddling, precede paraplegia ; in 

 other cases the patient goes down without previously showing 

 any symptoms suggestive of paralysis. The general state of 

 health is good, the cow eats well, ruminates, defalcation and 

 micturition are normal, she lies in a normal position with the 

 head erect, and cheerful expression of the eye ; in short, all 

 that is wrong is her inability to rise. 



"When we attempt to make her get up, she may weight the 

 knees and rise sufficiently behind to rest on the fetlocks, but 

 that is her limit. External examination, as well as rectal 

 exploration, does not detect any abnormality. Sensibility of 

 the hind legs is also normal. The animal can move the hind 

 legs, elevate and extend them, may even roll over from one side 

 to the other. In the latter instance we may expect her to get 

 up soon by herself. 



Course. — Experience teaches that the patients mostly 

 remain in the recumbent position until parturition. When it 

 occurs without extraordinary efforts on the part of the animal, 

 or especial disturbances during extraction, the animal mostly 

 rises soon afterward on the same day or on the following. At 

 first some weakness behind persists, but this disappears soon. 



When, however, the cow becomes paralyzed ten to fourteen 

 days before parturition, decubitus and its sequels — even a fatal 

 termination — soon set in, unless she is nursed most carefully. 

 With proper care such patients do well up to parturition and 

 rise soon afterwards. It is quite natural that recovery ensues 

 as soon as the infiltration of the pelvic muscles and the dis- 

 turbed circulation after evacuation of the uterus cease, and the 

 maternal organs again are properly nourished. Paraplegia 



