182 DISEASES OF THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 



normal to subnormal. From the nostrils a lymph-like fluid 

 is discharged. Besides these general symptoms those of 

 specific paralyses of the cranial nerves occur, especially thfe 

 oculomotor, trigeminal, glossopharyngeal, vagus, hypoglossus 

 and sometimes the opticus. 



The oculomotor paralysis is expressed by drooping of the 

 upper eyelids (ptosis) and dilatation of the pupil; the tri- 

 geminal paralysis leads to sinking of the lower jaw; the 

 glossopharyngeal paralysis leads to dysphagia; the vagus 

 paralysis produces inactivity of the muscles of the larynx, 

 leading to stenotic, noisy respirations. It also increases the 

 frequency of the pulse and induces a paralysis of the gullet 

 and stomach (tympanites) ; the paralysis of the hypoglossus 

 causes prolapse of the tongue and the paralysis of the optic 

 nerve produces amaurosis. As the sympathetic nerve is also 

 involved, paralysis of the brain and urinary bladder occurs. 



Course. — ^The course is very acute. Untreated animals may 

 die in twelve to forty-eight hours. In a few cases the disease 

 may take a subacute course, with relapses. Cases which 

 recover from the parturient paresis may die in about one 

 week from foreign body pneimionia, due to the dysphagia, 

 which allows medicines, saliva, and paunch contents to enter 

 the windpipe and lungs. Once in a while a case is left 

 with a chronic paraplegia which may last for two or three 

 weeks, and end in recovery or through decubital gangrene 

 lead to death. Mastitis and necrosis of the deep muscles of 

 the femur are rare complications. 



Prognosis. — ^While formerly the mortality was 50 per cent., 

 since the use of the new method of treatment it has been 

 reduced to 10 per cent. 



Treatment. — ^The best treatment for parturient paresis is 

 that first suggested by Schmidt of Kolding, Denmark, who 

 in the year 1897 recommended the injection of a solution of 

 iodid of potash into the udder. Later oxygen gas was em- 

 ployed, and still later sterile air. This treatment is simple: 

 By means of a pump air is forced through surgeon's cotton 

 into the teat canals until the udder is well inflated. In most 

 instances a remarkably prompt reaction on the part of the 

 patient is obtained. Obviously the instrument, especially 



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