434 Veterinary Obstetrics 



The treatment of paraplegia of pregnancy should be directed 

 toward the securing of the best possible environment for the 

 patient and providing abundant nutritious food. The animal 

 should be given a comfortable, well bedded dry stall where it can 

 not slip when attempting to rise. 



In all cases, an intelligent effort is to be made to relieve the 

 patient of superfluous weight. Bulky innutritious food should 

 be withdrawn and the alimentary tract relieved from any exist- 

 ing overload. This may be partly accomplished by means of 

 laxative foods, such as roots and bran with an extra allowance 

 of salt. But in decubitis there is a constant tendency to digestive 

 torpidity, which should be combatted. Strychnine given hypo- 

 dermically in doses of one half to one grain, repeated three 

 times a day, answers splendidly for an average-sized cow. Not 

 only does it overcome the intestinal torpidity, but at the same 

 time affords a most effective tonic. It may, with great advan- 

 tage, be combined with moderate doses of eserine or arecoline 

 until the alimentarj' tract has been .satisfactorily unloaded. 

 This is preferable to alkaline purgatives and oils, being safer to 

 administer, more prompt and efficient in action and probably less 

 dangerous to the life of the fetus. 



Enemas, advised by Fleming and others, are of little use in 

 ruminants, the principal point for our attack being the gastric 

 apparatus, with loo or more feet of intestine intervening. 



Our attitude toward the existing pregnancy is to be carefully 

 considered. Whatever the cause of the paraplegia, the presence 

 of the fetus, fetal fluids and membranes intensifies the malady 

 by the mechanical weight. The nutritive demands of the fetus 

 upon the mother add to the gravity of the case, especiall}' when 

 we recall the fact that the digestive and nutritive powers of the 

 animal are much depressed by the recumbency. 



Shall we hasten parturition ? Our answer should be based 

 upon a thorough consideration of all the surroundings. If it 

 appears safe to await normal parturition, this should be done. 

 If the case is progressing unsatisfactorily and much time must 

 yet elapse before parturition is to be regularly expected, pre- 

 mature birth .should be induced. In some cases this has yielded 

 us good results where, otherwise, a fatal termination appeared 

 to be the only prospect. 



