AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 265 



for the animal than when the disease progresses rapidly. 



The most effective treatment for parturient apoplexy is tlie 

 preventive treatment. The old adage that "an ounce of pre- 

 vention is worth a pound of cure," certainly holds good here. 

 The "pound of cure" in this case is nearly always unavailing, 

 while the judicious application of the "ounce of prevention" is 

 very effective. It is so easy to decide what animals are pre- 

 disposed, and they are in danger for so short a time, that no one 

 can afford to neglect to use reasonable precautions to protect the 

 most valuable cows of his herd. The fact that some dairymen 

 with the best of stock rarely ever lose a cow from parturient 

 apoplexy while others frequently suffer such loss is a suggestive 

 one, and forces us to the conclusion that much depends upon the 

 conditions under which the cows are kept. 



First, then, avoid those conditions that are known to favor the 

 development of the disease. At the critical time do not make 

 any radical change in the feed ; see that the udder is frequently 

 emptied of milk ; avoid exposing the cow to wet or cold ; keep in a 

 quiet place and guard against all exciting influences. 



The food for some time before and for a week after parturition 

 should be moderate in quantity and easily digestible. If the 

 cows are in the barn, feed moderately on the best of hay and a 

 few shorts, potatoes, apples or roots. Regulate the bowels by 

 the feed, so that there will be no tendency to constipation. 

 Water should be given frequently and with the chill taken off. 

 Cows will usually do well at pasture, but if it is necessary to put 

 them under cover to protect them from cold storms or a too hot 

 sun, they should not be given dry food, but cut grass for them 

 and feed it fresh. If these directions are followed there will be 

 little need to resort to the various "cow drinks" that are widely 

 advertised for use in such cases, and which, if given indiscrimi- 

 nately, are calculated to do more harm than good. 



For the lack of wise precautions, and sometimes in spite of 

 them, cases of parturient apoplexy will occur. At such time the 

 very best veterinary skill available should be promptly secured, for 

 much depends upon prompt treatment, provided it is of the right 

 sort, and any other is worse than useless at any time. It is 

 impossible to give directions for treatment that will be universally 

 applicable because no two cases will be exactly alike or require 

 quite the same treatment. Great care should be exercised in 

 giving medicine, particularly after the cow is down and unable to 



