920 Veterinary Obstetrics 



The disease in the mare is ushered in suddenly, runs a rapid 

 course of twenty-four to forty-eight hours, and terminates as 

 abruptly as it began, in complete recovery, or in death. 



The diagnosis should apparently be quite easy in all cases. 

 The history of the case, so far as observed, seems of special value. 

 The clonic and tonic spasms, the extreme trismus, and the 

 peculiar spasms of the diaphragm, are quite characteristic. It 

 may be confounded with : 



(a) Tetanus, from which it is distinguished by the sudden 

 onset, the earlier and more complete trismus, the peculiar spasm 

 of the diaphragm, the greater nervous irritability and greater 

 tendency to clonic spasms, the greater tendency to lie down, the 

 dilation of the pupil and pirouetting of the eyes, the absence of 

 the protrusion of the membrana nictatans, the absence of any 

 antecedent wound, the far more rapid course and the usually 

 more favorable termination. 



(b) Cerebro-spinal meningitis, from which it is to be separated 

 by its history, its more sudden onset, its cramp unaccompanied 

 by paralysis, its well marked trismus, rapid course and more 

 favorable termination. 



(c) Azoturia, from which it differs essentially in attacking 

 animals not subject to that affection — that is, mares enjoying 

 unrestrained liberty and having young foals. Aside from the 

 fact that azoturia cannot be induced in such animals, the spasms 

 are more general over the entire body, the trismus is character- 

 istic, and the urine neither abundant nor highly colored. 



The treatment should evidently consist first of quietude and 

 comfort. The foal should be allowed with the mare. In my 

 cases, free blood-letting apparently alleviated the symptoms, if 

 resorted to early. 



Fluid extracts of belladonna and cannabis Indica, in large and 

 repeated doses, apparently allayed the excitability, and exerted 

 a favorable influence upon the course of the disease. 



b. Parturient Paresis in the Cow. Milk Fever. 

 Parturient Apoplexy. 

 Parturient Paresis has long been known as an exceedingly 

 common, and until recently highly fatal malady of dairy cows. 

 It has apparently been known as long as dairying has been fol- 

 lowed as a scientific pursuit, and cows have been bred especially 

 for dairying purposes. 



