PARAPLEGIA 71 



The veterinarian begins his examination, and finds a 

 case about as follows: 



The temperature is either normal or not far from 

 it. If the cow has been down only an hour or two, 

 the temperature may be at 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 

 thereabouts. After she has been down a number of 

 hours the temperature is about normal. When the 

 animal is rolled up on her chest (providing she has not 

 already assumed that attitude voluntarily) she appears 

 entirely normal. She is bright and apparently suffer- 

 ing no pain; if there is some feed within reach she 

 begins to eat. 



The pulse is somewhat faster than normal, but not 

 much altered. 



"When the cow is urged to get up she willingly makes 

 the attempt; she is able to stand on her front legs 

 but the hind ones lie inert and the rump does not leave 

 the ground. If the animal is given assistance by lift- 

 ing at the tail she makes a few feeble outward strokes 

 with each hind leg and then usually falls in a heap. 

 There seems to be a total lack of power for adduction 

 and flexion; all motion is towards «Z)duction and ex- 

 tension, as in an obturator paralysis. Sensation is 

 diminished in the parts from the lumbar region back- 

 ward, and in some instances almost absent. In near- 

 ly every case the tail is flabby and immobile. The 

 latter is diagnostic of this condition and differentiates 

 the case from obturator paralysis, o])stetrieal paralysis 

 and other diseases of similar symptomatology. The 

 course of paraplegia is irregular and indefinite. Usu- 

 ally the cow retains a good appetite and apparently 

 suffers no pains. At intervals she makes strenuous 

 efforts to arise, creeping or falling over a considerable 

 area in the course of a day. 



