86 SPECIAL CATTLE THERAPY 



treated; in other cases death is preceded by convul- 

 sions, terminating in opisthotonic position. In most 

 of the cases to which the veterinarian is called the 

 animal is down. 



The early signs of the disease frequently are not 

 observed by the attendant or owner; in other in- 

 stances the disease progresses so rapidly that even if 

 the onset of the disease is observed and recognized 

 the cow goes down before the doctor arrives. He 

 finds the patient in the position which we have just 

 described. There is salivation of varying degree; the 

 reflexes are abolished almost without exception. In 

 most cases the temperature is decidedly subnormal 

 taken per rectum, running as low as 96 degrees Fahr- 

 enheit in some cases. The history which accompa- 

 nies — namely: calf born a day or two before without 

 trouble, etc. — decides the diagnosis. 



By far the greater number of cases of parturient 

 paresis constitute in themselves the sole complication 

 of the parturition. We mean by this that this dis- 

 ease is only very rarely accompanied by other dis- 

 eases or accidents of pregnancy, such as retention of 

 the after-birth, eversion of the uterus, and other trou- 

 bles. Now and then a case occurs in company with 

 such conditions, but in rare instances only. 



The prognosis in parturient paresis is favorable as 

 long as there is a spark of life in the cow. We have 

 seen quick recoveries in cases which had every ap- 

 pearance of being moribund. In parturient paresis 

 the veterinarian arrives ''too late" only if he arrives 

 when the cow is dead. While it is highly desirable 

 and advantageous that the case be taken in hand as 

 soon as possible after the onsat of the attack, hopes 

 for saving the animal's life and usefulness in cases in 

 which treatment has been delayed, should never be 



