Paraplegia 43 1 



size, no motions of the fetus could be determined either by 

 internal or external exploration. Five days after the first ex- 

 amination, there was found in the gutter of the stall a watery 

 fluid, estimated at about 5 or 6 large pailfuls. The fetus, about 

 the size of a child's head, was removed in the fetal membranes. 

 The uterus was washed with a creolin solution and a tonic was 

 administered, under which the cow recovered when she was bred 

 again, against the advice of Werner. The dropsy of the uterus 

 returned, and the cow was sold, so that the observation of the 

 case was interrupted. (Harms, Tierarztliche Geburtshilfe. ) 



Paraplegia. 



In the cow, and rarely in other ruminants, there occurs dur- 

 ing pregnancy a form of paralysis of the hind limbs, the nature 

 ■of which has not been fully determined. Presumably it depends 

 upon a variety of causes. The cause may at times be some in- 

 jury or accident to the limbs or spine or to the muscles acting 

 upon these. There appears, however, to be some more important 

 cause in a large majority of cases. During one winter, in the 

 -vicinity of Ithaca, N. Y., there was wide-spread complaint from 

 paraplegia in pregnant cows. It appeared in numerous dairies 

 scattered over a large area and involved, in some herds, as many 

 as 10% to 15% of the cows. 



In these cases, the disease appeared more or less suddenly and 

 the animal would be found lying down unable to rise. Perhaps 

 at first she would be able to stand, upon being assisted to her 

 feet. This condition might continue for days or weeks, until 

 finally she would go down and be unable to rise, even with assist- 

 ance. The disease generally appeared two or more weeks prior 

 to the average end of gestation and continued until after parturi- 

 tion, unless the animal were previously destroyed or succumbed 

 to the affection or to some intercurrent complication. The ani- 

 mal was bright, lay upon the sternum with the head erect and 

 appeared at first quite normal. The temperature was normal, 

 the muzzle moist, the pulse and respirations unchanged. The 

 bowels were normal or possibly suffered some degree of torpid- 

 ity, as would be naturally expected in an animal in the recum- 

 bent position. The appetite was good. The fetus was alive and 

 apparently normal. 



