432 Veterinary Obstetrics 



The occurrence of this malady could not be traced to any defi- 

 nite cause. The cows which were affected were in the stable, 

 since the disease occurred during the latter half of the winter. 

 As the food upon which they subsisted varied in the different 

 dairies, nothing definite as to cause could be determined in this 

 way. The grain upon which the animals were fed was mostly 

 imported from the western states and consisted largely of bran, 

 corn meal and brewer's grains or sprouts. The hay was grown 

 locally by the farmers, and had been generally damaged during 

 the haying season because of wet weather, so that most of it 

 was of an inferior quality and more or less discolored and 

 mouldy, but it was not pre-eminently bad. The cows were not 

 in good condition. They were not extremely emaciated and 

 had not been starved so far as quantity of food was concerned, 

 but had been fed somewhat liberally. Yet they were thin in flesh 

 and seemed to be weak and wanting in vigor. This condition 

 applied alike to the pregnant and non-pregnant animals. The 

 damaged hay seemed the most probable cause of the disease. 



Saint-Cyr records similar occurrences. Though he thinks it 

 would be improper to speak of them as epizootic, yet they oc- 

 curred quite frequently during certain years and in given herds. 



The disease usually persists, should the animal survive, until 

 parturition, after which it generally disappears. The tendency 

 for it to disappear after parturition seems to be largely due to 

 the decreased load which the animal has to bear because of the 

 expulsion of the fetus and its annexes and the decreased drain 

 upon the maternal system when freed from the nutritive demands 

 of the fetus. In the diagnosis of paraplegia we must carefully 

 distinguish it from other maladies causing similar symptoms. 

 We have already stated that paraplegia may be due to some acci- 

 dent, such as a strain or other injury to the limbs or .spine. The 

 possibility or probability of such injury should be excluded as 

 far as possible. 



We have already related that osteomalacic may induce symp- 

 toms of paraplegia. It is not readily diagnosed clinically from 

 the affection under consideration. They are much alike in 

 causes so far as known. If a fracture or lameness occurs with- 

 out warrant it may be very suggestive of osteomalacic. 



We should carefully differentiate paraplegia from dropsy of 

 the amnion, in which the collection of the fetal fluids may be 



