162 DISEASES bF THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 



frequency of the pulse and induces a paralysis of the gullet 

 and stomach (tympanites) ; the paralysis of the hypoglossus 

 causes prolapse of the tongue and the paralysis of the optic 

 nerve produces amaurosis. As the sympathetic nerve is also 

 involved, paralysis of the brain and urinary bladder occur. 



Course. — The course is very acute. Untreated animals may 

 die in twelve to forty-eight hours. In a few cases the disease 

 may take a subacute course, with relapses. Cases which 

 recover from the parturient paresis may die in about one 

 week from foreign-body pneumonia, due to the dysphagia, 

 which allows medicines,, saliva, and paunch contents to 

 enter the windpipe and lungs. Occasionally a case is left 

 with a chronic paraplegia which may last for two or three 

 weeks, and end in recovery or through decubital gangrene 

 lead to death. Mastitis and necrosis of the deep muscles of 

 the femur are rare complications. 



Prognosis. — While formerly the mortality was 50 per cent., 

 since the use of the new method of treatment it has been ' 

 reduced to 10 per cent. 



Treatment. — The best treatment for parturient paresis is 

 that first suggested by Schmidt of Kolding, Denmark, who 

 in the year 1897 recommended the injection of a solution of 

 iodid of potash into the udder. Later oxygen gas was em- 

 ployed, and still later sterile air. This treatment is simple: 

 By means of a pump air is forced through surgeon's cotton 

 into the teat canals until the udder is well inflated. In most 

 instances a remarkably prompt reaction on the part of the 

 patient is obtained. Obviously the instrument, especially 

 the teat tube, should be sterile, the ends of the teats thor- 

 oughly disinfected and the hands of the operator clean. The 

 instrument should be sterilized by boiling rather than the 

 use of antiseptics. In fact, it is not advisable to permit anti- 

 septics to enter the udder, as mastitis is apt to result. If the 

 sphincters of the teats are too weak to retain the air, bandages 

 may be placed around the teats to reinforce them. Other- 

 wise ligation should not be employed. If after three to six 

 hours no results come from the first inflation of the udder a 

 second inflation may follow. If done under aseptic precau- 

 tions several inflations will be tolerated by the mammary 

 gland without danger of infection. 



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