466 NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



Schmidt has found that as much as 6 drachms may be injected into 

 the udder without harm to the cow. Schmidt, in his first report, made 

 in 1898, recorded 50 cases treated for parturient paralysis by this 

 method with but two deaths from the disease. There were, however, 

 only 46 recoveries, as two cows were slaughtered for beef during the 

 first day of convalescence. A short time later a report was made by 

 Jensen showing that in Denmark up to that time sixty-five veterinarians 

 of that country had treated 41'2 cases by the Schmidt method, 90 per 

 cent, of which recovered. Such results seem to indicate this as the treat- 

 ment 2'«'' e.vccllrnce for parturient paralysis. -It still remained to secure 

 the introduction of this treatment into the United States and to deter- 

 mine what results could be obtained. In all 166 cases were reported ; 

 of these 166, 119 resulted in recovery, while 47 were fatal. Of the fatal 

 cases, in eight of the cows death may be traced to some complication, such 

 as prolapse of the uterus, foreign-body pneumonia, etc. In these cases 

 the Schmidt treatment cannot be said to have failed, for it is not in any 

 way intended that it shall be able to overcome such accidental conditions. 

 If the cow has recovered from its condition of paralysis as a result of 

 the Schmidt treatment far enough to be out of danger from that source 

 and to promise recovery, but later falls a victim to some complication 

 that is in no measure a part of parturient paralysis, but only a result 

 of that disease, it may with justice be said that the Schmidt treatment 

 was a success so far as the malady against which it was directed is con- 

 cerned. Looking at the reports from this generous point of view, in 127 

 cases out of 166, or 76'5 per cent., the Schmidt treatment was successful 

 so far as the parturient paralysis was concerned. 



In a paper published in the Bciiiner ThieriirstUclir Wocheiisclirift 

 in August, 1902, Schmidt reviews the results of his treatment as 

 evinced by 914 patients treated by thirty-one different practitioners : 

 884, or 96'7 per cent., recovered, twelve died and six were slaughtered 

 during the course of the disease. Twelve others were slaughtered at a 

 later period in consequence of complications. Jensen reported the 

 results of 1,744 cases. 



Schmidt also found that the simple injection of air was in many 

 cases sufficient to produce recovery, and subsequent observation tends 

 to show that the fluid injected is of less importance than was first 

 anticipated. A large number of unirritating solutions may be employed. 

 Schmidt, however, still counsels the use of a quart of 1 per cent, 

 solution of iodide of potassium, in which can be dissolved 5 grammes 

 of caffein sodio-salicylate if the heart's action is weak. About 10 

 ounces of this solution are injected into each quarter, and are followed 

 by a liberal injection of air. The parts should afterwards be freely 

 massaged. 



