DISEASES OF CATTLE 339 



apoplexy and parturition fever. There is, however, very httle if 

 any fever connected with the disease, as temperature is usually 

 below normal. High-producing, fleshy, aged cows that have 

 been closely confined are likely to be attacked. In fact, the best 

 and heaviest milkers are most subject to the disease. It is 

 more likely to occur when the birth has been comparatively 

 easy and quick, and from one to ten days after calving. There 

 is a sudden dullness, hanging back in the stall, drooping of the 

 head, uneasy movement of the hind limbs, unsteady steps; and 

 the cow staggers, lies, or falls down and is unable to rise. At 

 this time there may be some temperature. At first the cow lies 

 with her head turned around with nose resting on the right 

 flank; later she may stretch full on her side. She soon becomes 

 unconscious, the eyes are glazed, their pupils widely dilated and 

 their lids not movable when the ball of the eye is touched with 

 the finger. Treatment must follow quickly or she will soon 

 expire. 



While this disease was formerly considered very fatal, with 

 the air-treatment it is seldom so. This air-treatment consists 

 simply of injecting air into the udder and carefully kneading 

 the udder at the same time. Care must be taken that the air 

 be sterile. There are Schmidt-Kolding sterile-air milk-fever 

 outfits on the market with which to force the air into the udder, 

 yet if one of these is not near at hand, a very convenient ap- 

 paratus can be made from a common bicycle air-pump and a 

 milk-tube. In fact, this simple apparatus will prove as efficient 

 as any. Attach the milk-tube to the pump, insert the tube 

 into the teat and as the air is pumped in, knead the udder well. 

 In two hours milk the air out, rest a few minutes, and piunp up 

 again. This may be repeated every two hours until the animal 

 is relieved. If the animal is badly bloated, puncture the paunch 

 in the left loin with a canula and trocar as suggested for bloating 

 (page 351). This treatment should be pursued while there is 

 life, irrespective of how low the cow may seem. Do not let the 



