394 • BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



sion of the blood-vessels seen post mortem and the purple 

 colour of the visible mucous membranes throughout the 

 attack show that extreme fulness of vessels is present in 

 these cases, and also a loss of tone of their muscular 

 structure. Several other theories as to the nature of the 

 disease might be given, but it is not necessary. Williams' 

 idea, ''that the particular congestion of the brain and its 

 meninges is determined by the state of mental excitement 

 which is always present at this period, an argument borne 

 out by the fact that the removal of the offspring from the 

 mother is a fruitful cause of the so-called milk fever,'' is 

 feasible, but such an exciting cause is not absolutely 

 essential, and the brain is not the only part of the body 

 which is congested and presents blood extravasations. 



Treatment. — Prophylactic consists in ensuring a healthy 

 state of the constitution towards the time of parturition by 

 allowing a little exercise and adopting other means to 

 avoid plethora. Some authorities even suggest cathartic 

 doses and bleeding with this object. 



Curative. — In the earliest stages the abstraction of blood 

 is decidedly beneficial, and a large cathartic dose must be 

 administered. This latter measure should always be 

 adopted whatever the stage of the disorder, for one of 

 the most important indications is to get the bowels to act, 

 and it is really wonderful what large doses of purgatives 

 may remain in the alimentary canal without producing 

 any effect, for the great distension of the blood-vessels 

 prevents their absorption. Usually a combination of 

 salines with aloes is recommended. In no disease is more 

 careful and assiduous nursing required. The animal must 

 be supported by bundles of straw, and covered with cloths, 

 the udder stripped regularly, and friction applied all over 

 the surface of the body. Cold water or ice may be 

 applied to the forehead, which may tend to rouse the 

 tonicity of the cranial arteries, which may thereby overcome 

 the passive congestion, but a more important means is 

 the frequent administration of small doses of diffusible 

 stimulants, which, we believe, tend to rouse the sympa- 

 thetic system into activity, and to diffuse some of that 



