ECLA.MI'Sr.L 668 



perceived that it was weak in the hind-quarters, and in the short distance it had tn travel 

 it fell se\eral times. It was put in a shed with a northern exposure, and its Calf being 

 broujjht, it remained completely indifferent to it. At two o'clock ic fell, and Mauri was 

 sent fur. He found it lying extende<l on the right side, the respiration appeared to be 

 entirely diaphragmatic, and it was rlitticiilt to perceive the movements of the Hanks ; 

 the pulse was imperceptible, but the heart's beats were strong. The tongue iuing out of 

 the mouth, and the air expelled carried a large (juantity of foamy saliva with it. The 

 senses appeared to be completely abolished, and the eyeballs — turned trreatly upwards — 

 Kxiked fixed in a remarkable manner. The limbs were rigidly extended, and they, with 

 the trunk, jerked in such a violent manner, that the whole body was shaken without 

 being displaced. The udder was not Haccid, and milk of a good (piality was readily 

 obtained Irom it. 



Mauri thought it was a case of parturient collapse, and ordered the necessary treat- 

 ment. After six o'clock in the evening, while jireparations were being made to carry 

 out his prescriptions, the Cow got up and stumbled towards the side f)f the hhed where 

 its Calf wa.s standing. During the night it ate and ruminated. Next morning at eight 

 o'clock there was another attack. The premonitory symptoms lasted for about half an 

 hour, and the animal lay until half-p;xst nine. At midday it did not present any signs 

 of disease. It had no more attacks, but the owner, apprehensive of future danger, sold 

 it two months afterwards, and Mauri lost sight of it. 



Calmettes' mentions that a four-yearold Cow gave birth to a Calf during the night in 

 quite a natural manner, and during the following day it ate and ruminated as usual. 

 Tov.ards six o'clock in the evening it suddenly commenced to tremble and stagger in its 

 hind liudw, so that it could only walk with the greate-t ditticulty. At seven o'clock 

 Calmettes noted that the hind-iiuarters were veiy feeble ; the general sensibility 

 appeared to be increased, and pressure on the dorsodumbar region cau.^^ed much pain ; 

 the skin was very hot, an<l the respiration deep and hurried ; the pulse was strong and 

 ([uick, the mucous membranes somewliat red<lentd, and the muffle damp. Counter- 

 imtiints were applied to the hind-ipiarters, and draughts and emollient enemas adminis- 

 tered. At one o'clock in the morning he was again called. The animal had fallen on 

 its side ; the general .sensibility was diminished, and the skin wjus very cold. From 

 time to time it was remarked that all the extensor muscles of the limbs were convulsed, 

 which threw the latter into rigid extension ; though, when seized by the hand^, they 

 could be Hexed and moved alx)ut. The sensorial functions were completely abolished, 

 and the skin could be pricked or incised without inducing the least movement ; the eye, 

 which wa.s generally fixed, pirouetted in its orbit from time to time, while it could dis- 

 tinguish nothing, and could be touched without betraying any sensation ; there was also 

 loss of hearing. At this time the respiration was about normal — eighteen to twenty 

 respirations in the nnnute ; the pulse was small and imperceptible ; the heart's beats 

 strong ; the mucous membrane rather pale than red, and the muHle dry. During 

 expiration there was a labial xoiijih, and an abundance of foamy ealiva escaped from the 

 mouth. The animal remained in this condition for six hours. 



Towards .seven o'clock next morning, when al)out to send for a butcher, the limbs 

 becauje rigid and were seized with convulsions, which extended to the entire body. .iVs 

 if by enchantment, the animal placed itself on its sternum, rai.-ed its head to the normal 

 position, and Hnally got up, though with diHiculty. It had been in a somewhat de«>p 

 coma for about an hour. 



In the evening it had u second attack, there being ceneral agitation, with hurried 

 respiration and weakness of the hind-quarters. Soon it fell, had numerous convidsions, 

 and manifested the same general insensibilitv it dispUyed in the morning. This con- 

 tinned for only three hours. Next morning it ajijieared to be quite recovered. 



Fifteen months previously, and eight days after parturition, this C'ow had another 

 attack when returning fn)m pasture ; bein^' suddenly seized with tremblings, it stag- 

 gered and fell. In half an hour afterwards it was conqiletely insensible, an'i sensa- 

 tioidess ; the respiration was almost normal, the pulse iinjxjrceptibl-, though the 

 contractions of the lieart were powerful, and all the symptoms already enumerated were 

 pres.Mit, but became more rapidly developed. The convulsions continued for two and a 

 half hours. 



Lafitte- makes mention of a Cow that calved in the most favourable manner, and four 

 hours afterwards became agitated and restless : soon afterwards, there were con vuNions of 

 the muscles of the trunk and limbs, anil so much weakness set in that the animal could not 

 stand. The t«mgue was often projected from the mouth and foam flowed therefrom : 

 the Cow could hear and see during the attack. The pidse was intermitt>nt, and the 

 respiration moderately increased. In about ten hours it arose and gradually recovered. 

 Two days after, it had another and a final attack, which lasted for three hours. 



Revue Vitirinuirt, 1876, p. 67. • Ibid., p. 70. 



