OBSTETRICAL PARALYSIS 79 



While recoveries have been reported in cases of 

 rabies it is very doubtful whether they were correctly 

 diagnosed. AVe can readily understand how one hav- 

 ing had no experience with puerperal mania could 

 mistake the condition for rabies. For us, however, 

 the very fact that the animal survives is ample evi- 

 dence that the disease with which the animal was af- 

 flicted was not rabies. 



OBSTETRICAL PARALYSIS 



This is a condition which follows only those cases 

 of parturition in which the calf is exceedingly large, 

 or cases of dystocia, during the correction of which 

 the cow is subjected to prolonged handling and bruis- 

 ing. It is rarely, if ever, seen after normal delivery 

 or after cases of minor dystocia. 



The ideal circumstances for the development of this 

 condition consist in prolonged labor due to an abnor- 

 mally large fetus. The usual history is that the cow 

 was down during the birth and has not been able to 

 get up since, or that she Avent down very soon after 

 the calf was delivered and is unable to arise. 



These cases can not very easily be confused with 

 parturient paresis because the entire symptomatology 

 in obstetrical paralysis is confined to the inability of 

 the cow to get up. In every other way the animal 

 is normal; no sign of coma or indisposition in the 

 least. The animal eats and drinks and looks well in 

 every way. The most careful examination will bring 

 out nothing of value in diagnosis, except that usually 

 the tumefied condition of the vulva gives evidence of 

 the difficult labor. 



