Paraplegia 433 



so great that the animal is unable to rise when down simply 

 because of the enormous weight. 



Paraplegia is also to be distinguished from parturient paresis, 

 or "milk fever," which in rare cases appears during pregnancy, 

 instead of after. The differentiation between the two is not verj'^ 

 eas5", since in a mild form of parturient paresis the animal may 

 look bright. Parturient paresis, however, occurs chiefly, in 

 those rare cases in which it is seen during pregnancy, only a few 

 days prior to the end of gestation, and isusualh- accompanied by 

 a sub-normal temperature, as in the ordinary paresis after 

 calving. This will be more fully dealt with under " Parturient 

 Paresis." Parturient paresis occurs solely in vigorous, well fed 

 cows, while paraplegia not due to accident is .seen in improperly 

 nourished, anaemic cows. 



There may be difficulty in differentiating between overfeeding 

 and paraplegia. It is a well known fact that, in the cow, para- 

 plegia is a common symptom of .serious disorder and that we 

 have more or less complete paraplegia, paralysis and coma fol- 

 lowing overeating and the decomposition of food in the rumen. 

 The history of the overfeeding should of itself usualU' serve to 

 distinguish between the two maladies. However, the treatment 

 is largely alike. 



The prognosis is variable. Paraplegia due to the various 

 accidents enumerated is curable in .so far as the causes and effects 

 are removable. 



In the enzootic outbreaks of paraplegia observed by us, the 

 results have not proven satisfactory. The forced decubitis was 

 not readily removed during pregnancy and the long wait until 

 the advent of parturition led too often to fatal results. Our 

 mortality has been high, perhaps largely because our patients 

 were too distant and our handling, consequently, wanting in 

 proper oversight. 



Parturition, by removing the mechanical weight of the fetus 

 and its annexes, perhaps at times including some degree of 

 hydrops of the amnion and allantois, exerts a favorable influence 

 upon the course of the di.sease. Parturition also favors recovery 

 by relieving the mother from the nutritive demands of the fetus. 

 The earlier parturition occurs after the advent of the disease, 

 the more favorable the outlook for the patient. 

 28 



