DISEASES FOLLOWING PAETUEITION. 233 



avoided. Better keep the cow indoors on dry straw with plenty of 

 salt and water than to have access to such pastures. 



Old treatment. — If the cow is seen before she goes down, the 

 abstraction of blood is demanded, and may usually be carried to the 

 extent of 4 or even 6 quarts. The fullness and force of the pulse 

 must determine the amount ; if it is weak and rapid or scarcely per- 

 ceptible the vein must be instantly closed, and it may even be neces- 

 sary to give ammoniacal stimulants. If the cow is lying down, 

 unable to rise, and, above all, if no winking is caused by touching 

 the eyeball, bleeding must be done, if at all, with great precaution. 

 A pint or a quart may be all that can be safely taken, and in case 

 the pulse has been small and weak no more should be drawn unless 

 the pulse beat strengthens. The fatal coUapse already threatening 

 is often precipitated by unguarded bleeding. The jugular vein may 

 be opened as coming directly from the brain, and as the object is to 

 lessen the density of the blood and the tension in the blood vessels 

 Avithout shock, it is not so essential to draw it in a full stream as in 

 other cases of bloodletting. As the blood is withdrawn the place is 

 speedily taken by liquids (mainly water), absorb(^d from all avail- 

 able parts of the body, and thus the blood is helpfully diluted. 



It is a good practice to give a dose of purgative medicine (Epsom 

 salt 2 pounds, carbonate of ammonia one-half ounce, nux vomica 

 one-half dram). If it is absorbed it will find its way to the bowels 

 and start active secretion, thereby relieving the plethora ; if it is not 

 absorbed it will do no harm. Enemas of wann water and soap or 

 oil may be beneficially employed. 



Iced water or bags of ice to the head (tied around the horns and 

 covering the forehead and upper part of the neck) are of the very 

 greatest value in cases in which the heat of the horns, ears, and head, 

 the redness of the eyes, and fixed dilatation of the pupils are marked 

 features. Like bleeding, it may be uncalled for in those cases in 

 which the heat and general congestion of the head are absent. 



In these congestive cases, too. benefit is often deriA'ed from large 

 and frequent doses (20 drops every four hours) of tincture of aconite. 

 It acts not alone as a sedative to the heart and circulation, but also by 

 favoring a free circulation in the skin. In what may be called the 

 noncongestive cases it is of little avail. 



Harms claims excellent results from large doses of tatar emetic — 1 

 ounce for the first dose, 3 drams more after four hours, and 2 drams 

 after four hours. If absorbed it will act after the manner of aconite 

 as a sedative by causing a free circulation in the skin. 



This increased circulation in the skin serves to draw away blood 

 from the internal organs, and thus to relieve the brain, and to secure 

 the same result a variety of resorts are had with varying success in 

 different cases. The application of hot (almost scalding) water to 



