CONDITIONS FOLLOWING PARTURITION. 119 
Causes.—The predisposing causes may be enumer- 
ated as follows: breed or individual predisposition, 
high temperature, confinement, constipation, electrical 
disturbances, development of the lacteal function (age), 
and plethoric condition. 
As to the actual, or exciting cause or causes, although 
some authorities believe that the disease is chiefly due 
to infection, opinions vary as much as to its etiology as 
they do with regard to its pathology. 
The post-mortem appearances are varied in character. 
The digestive organs are usually normal. The rumen 
generally distended with gas. Gall-bladder sometimes 
much distended, Lungs normal, or slightly emphyse- 
matous; at other times congested, or in various stages 
of pneumonia from the inhalation of foreign matters. 
The nervous system has not exhibited any uniform or 
satisfactory lesions. 
Treatment.—Knowing the value of prophylactic 
measures, toomuch emphasis cannot be placed upon 
the necessity for strict hygiene of the pregnant Cow, 
especially during the later months, and more particularly 
in those animals whose breed, age, and lacteal develop- 
ment predisposes to this disease. The food should 
be easy of digestion, and sparing in amount. The 
animal should, if possible, be allowed exercise, and her 
condition should be made as natural and comfortable 
as circumstances will permit. Some recommend 
bleeding, a few days prior to parturition, as absolutely 
effective; while others advise a saline purgative. A 
number of other agents are suggested as useful 
preventives. 
