208 TREATMENT OF PARTURIENT APOPLEXY. 
have concurred in showing that the virus , wdien introduced 
into the living tissues, produces inflammation in no way 
different from that caused by setons, &c., except that it has 
a greater tendency to a gangrenous result. 
3d. That if w 7 e admit its revulsive effects, it still possesses 
no advantages over therapeutic agents in common use in 
veterinary practice. 
4th. That as inoculation is frequently followed by serious 
and sometimes fatal consequences, it is just and reasonable 
to give a preference to the usual derivatives. 
5th. That should it happen to be, as Dr. Willems 
pretends, a prophylactic, for which there seems, however, to 
be no valid ground, proofs are wanting of the inoculative 
qualities existing the serum exuded from the lungs, and 
therefore its employment can be of no benefit. 5 ’ 
TREATMENT OE PARTURIENT APOPLEXY. 
Mr. C. S. Green, M.R.C.V.S., Winchester, informs us 
that he has been generally successful in his treatment of 
dropping after calving (Parturient apoplexy) by dividing the 
depressor muscles of the tail, as in the common operation of 
nicking, with the special view to the cutting asunder the 
coccygeal nerves, in conjunction with the ordinary treatment 
often had recourse to in this disease. 
Such a means of giving a shock to the nervous system for 
the purpose of restoring its suspended function is not new ; 
and we have known it often resorted to in this affection, 
but without benefit. It seems to have had its origin in the 
cow r -leech J s idea of “ tail-slip’ 5 being the cause of the inability 
of the animal to rise. 
We are of opinion that Mr. Green’s success depends rather 
on his early withdrawal of blood and the free use of cathartic 
agents with active counter-irritation to the spine, wdiich it 
appears is the plan he adopts. 
