390 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



recommended, and stimulant applications along the length 

 of the back are of decided benefit. 



Chorea — Stringhalt. — Cases of this nature charac- 

 terised by clonic muscular spasms have been described, 

 as in the 'Veterinarian/ vol. xv, p. 71, and ' Edinburgh 

 Yeterinary Keview,^ vol. iv, p. 237. In the latter instance 

 a number of animals were affected, and this was attri- 

 buted to the practice of giving them burnt ale with their 

 food. 



Partur[ent Apoplexy — " milh fever/' " dropjping after 

 calving^' — is a disease peculiar to the cow, generally 

 occurring after calving, and within three days of that 

 event, most frequent after easy accomplishment of birth, 

 in good milkers, and in old animals seldom before the 

 third calf, perhaps most often seen after the fifth ; very 

 liable to recurrence in animals which have once suffered 

 from it when the time for parturition again comes round. 

 It is noticed most frequently in warm weather, and in 

 animals which are in a plethoric state at the time of par- 

 turition. The disease is mentioned as also taking place 

 in some cases before birth, and some say even several 

 weeks after that event ; but this is very doubtful, and, at 

 any rate, quite exceptional. 



Symptoms. — The cow, some time after parturition, 

 generally about four hours, becomes restless, raises the 

 hind feet alternately, breathes rather quickly, is unwilling 

 to move, and staggers during progression. There is 

 cessation of appetite and rumination, a staring condition 

 of the eye and — a sign of great significance — the supply 

 of milk suddenly fails. Shortly, in about twenty-four 

 hours after parturition, the animal falls, the hind limbs 

 giving way, and remains on the ground, generally after 

 several ineffectual attempts to rise. Then, it is found that 

 the eyes are protruding and bloodshot, and insensible to 

 the touch; in fact, there is a general loss of sensation 

 and power of voluntary motion. The pulse is now full, 

 soft, and frequently slow, but subsequently it becomes 

 faster, smaller, and finally imperceptible. The respiratory 

 efforts are slow and infrequent, and, after a little time, 



