EFFECT OF PUERPERAL FEVER IN A COW 
143 
man to mind her about seven hours, when he left her for a short 
time. On coming to her some time afterwards he found her out of 
the slings (the latter not disturbed), lying quietly and ruminat- 
ing, to all appearance like a cow in health. How she got out of the 
slings without breaking them or injuring herself remains a mystery. 
She was placed in the slings on the following day; but, after 
being in about two hours, she shewed symptoms of uneasiness 
and quick breathing. She was taken out, the bags having cut 
her in several places, as well as obstructed the respiration. 
On the 17th I saw her. Appetite good; ruminates as usual. 
I gave her a slight tap with my whip ; she endeavoured to rise, 
but failed. I severely stimulated the spine ; ordered good food, 
and plenty. 
Although she did not now require our frequently seeing her, Mr. 
Pvattor myself called every day that w’e were going through the 
village. Three or four days after I had again stimulated the spine 
I called one morning. For the sake of experiment I gave her 
rather a sharp stroke with my whip. She immediately rose on 
her fore feet, and sat on her hocks. Thinking that our patient 
was now going to get up in good earnest, I struck her again ; but, 
instead of getting on the hind feet as 1 anticipated, she walked 
around the cow-house in the position I have described, flexing 
her hocks to prevent her feet from catching in the straw. 
She has continued in this state up to the present time — the 8th 
of February — notwithstanding she has been liberally fed on the 
best food, her spine repeatedly and severely stimulated, and she 
has also been placed in the slings frequently. She has appeared 
in general good health, with the exception of the paralysis below 
the hocks, the latter being in a dreadful state from the long-con- 
tinued pressure upon them. Every means having now failed that 
we could think of to enable her to stand upon her hind feet, and 
the owner’s patience being exhausted, she was destroyed. The 
above case clearly shews, if evidence were wanted, that it was a 
disease of the nervous system. 
Mr. Pyatt has now a case similar to the above. The cow hav- 
ing recovered from the acute form of the disease, is incapable 
of rising, although her general functions are healthily discharged. 
I beg to acknowledge his kindness in allowing me to give publi- 
city to this case. You, or any of the readers of The Veterina- 
rian, would confer on me, and many others, considerable obliga- 
tion, by favouring us with your views of the cause and the best 
treatment of these cases. 
