PARTURIENT PARESIS— MILK FEVER 181 



and weakness, may be combated symptomatically with 

 alcohol and veratrin (grs. ij). 



Prevention. — Prevention consists in having all obstetrical 

 instruments, ropes, and the hands of the operator disinfected 

 before attempting to assist in delivery. 



PARTURIENT PARESIS. MILK FEVER. 



Definition. — A non-febrile disease of cattle, swine, and goats 

 occurring at or following parturition and characterized by 

 general paralysis and usually vinconsciousness. 



Occurrence. — The disorder is common among cows, espe- 

 cially valuable dairy cows, which are heavy feeders and deep 

 milkers. It usually occurs at the acme of lactation and in 

 cows that are well bred and in prime condition. Thin cows 

 or very fat cows do not seem predisposed. When delivery 

 has been difficult, parturient paresis is less apt to occur than 

 when the birth has been easy and the expulsion of the after- 

 birth prompt. 



Primipara are very rarely attacked. Usually it occurs in 

 gows from the third to the fifth calving. 



Etiology. — ^The causes of parturient paresis are unknown. 

 The following theories have been suggested : (a) Auto-intoxi- 

 cation from the uterus or udder resembling ptomaine poison- 

 ing; (b) it may be an anaphylactic phenomenon, or (c) an 

 anemia of the brain, the result of the sudden blood flow to the 

 udder or in consequence of a vasomotor collapse. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms usually begin twelve to forty- 

 eight hours after delivery. A few cases are recorded where 

 the attack came on during or even before the birth. The 

 principal symptoms are suddenly developing general motor 

 and sensory paralysis, with loss of consciousness. After show- 

 ing some symptoms of languor, weakness, and staggering gait 

 the cow lies down. She may regain her feet but arises with 

 difficulty. Finally she becomes completely paralyzed and 

 unconscious. Often the patient is found lying on her sternum 

 with her head thrown around against the flank, the muzzle 

 resting close to the udder. In other cases she lies flat on her 

 side. The respirations are slow and deep, the temperature 



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