DISEASES FOLLOWING PARTURITION. 225 



at first from 50 to 70 per minute, becomes more accelerated and 

 weaker as the disease advances. The breathing is qtiickened, becom- 

 ing more and more so with the violence of the symptoms, and at first 

 associated with moaning (in exceptional cases, bellowing), it may, 

 before death, become slow, deep, sighing, or rattling (stertorous). 

 The temperature, at first usually raised, tends to become lower as 

 stupor and utter insensibility and coma supervene. The bowels, 

 which may have moved at the onset of the attack, become torpid or 

 completely paralyzed, and, unless in case of improvement, they are not 

 likely to operate again. Yet this is the result of paralysis and not of 

 induration of the feces, as often shown by the semiliquid pultaceous 

 condition of the contents after death. The bladder, too, is paralyzed 

 and fails to expel its contents. A free action of either bladder or 

 bowels, or of both, is always a favorable symptom. The urine con- 

 tains sugar, in amount proportionate to the severity of the attack. 



In nearly all cases the torpor of the digestive organs results in gas- 

 tric disorder; the paunch becomes the seat of fermentation, produc- 

 ing gas, which causes it to bloat up like a drum. There are frequent 

 eructations of gas and liquid and solid food, which, reaching the par- 

 alyzed throat, pass in part into the windpipe and cause inflammations 

 of the air passages and lungs. 



In the torpid form of the disease there is much less indication of 

 fever or violence. There may be no special heat about the horns, 

 ears, or forehead, nor any marked redness or congestion of the eyes 

 or nose, nor engorgement of the veins of the head. The attack comes 

 on more slowly, with apparent weakness of the hind limbs, dullness, 

 drowsiness, suspension of rumination and appetite, and a general 

 indifference to surrounding objects. Soon the cow lies down, or falls 

 and is unable to rise, but for one or two days she may rest on the 

 breastbone and hold the head in the flank without showing any disor- 

 derly movements. Meanwhile there is is not only loss of muscular 

 power and inability to stand, but also considerable dullness of sensa- 

 tion, pricking the skin producing no quick response, and even touch- 

 ing the edge of the eyelids causing no very prompt winking. Unless 

 she gets relief, however, the case develops all the advanced symptoms 

 of the more violent form, and the animal perishes. 



In advanced and fatal cases of either form the insensibility becomes 

 complete; no irritation of skin or eye meets any response; the eye 

 becomes more dull and glassy ; the head rests on the ground or other 

 object; unless prevented, the cow lies stretched fully on her side; the 

 pulse is small, rapid, and finally imperceptible ; the breathing is slow, 

 deep, stertorous, and the expirations accompanied by puffing out of 

 the cheeks, and death comes quietly or with accompanying struggles. 



For such fatal disease prevention is of far more consequence than 

 treatment. Among the most efficient preventives may be named a 



61386—08 15 



