PARTURIENT APOPLEXY. 
29 
appetite, and paddling with the hind feet. As the disease pro¬ 
gresses the breathing becomes hard and loud ; there will be 
knuckling in the fetlocks, and finally the animal drops; will per¬ 
haps rise, then drop, and will be unable to rise again ; breathing 
becomes slower, accompanied by a peculiar moan. The eves are 
blood-shot, wild and staring; the ears, horns and forehead hot, 
the extremities cold. At first the cow dashes her head about 
violently, but finally becomes quiet and insensitive to surrounding 
objects. The head will be thrown around, resting against the 
side with the nose upon the ground. In some cases the cow lies 
on her side with the head and legs outstretched. The power of 
swallowing may be lost or imperfectly maintained. The pulse, at 
first full, gradually becomes quick, small and almost impercepti¬ 
ble. During the first stages there is slight fever, but the temper¬ 
ature soon falls below the normal; the bowels are constipated, 
with retention of urine. These symptoms will run their course 
in from two to twentv-four hours. 
Treatment .—The treatment which I recommend is that which 
I have successfully used the past two seasons, and which can be 
applied by any one who handles cattle. My attention was first 
directed to it by an article in the London Veterinary Journal for 
August, 1887. 
The first thing necessary is to place the animal in as near a 
naturally recumbent position as possible, keeping her in place with 
bundles of hay or straw. Place a rope around the horns and 
fasten the head so that it will be held in a natural position, then 
give at once (1) twenty to thirty ounces of whiskey or a pint of 
brandy, well diluted with warm water. About half an hour after¬ 
ward administer (2) from one to two pints of good molasses dis¬ 
solved in hot water. The molasses creates thirst; the animal 
will drink greedily two or three hours after it has been given, 
and should then be allowed plenty of good pure water. Apply 
plenty of ice or cold water to the head. If cold water, see that 
it is applied every ten minutes. A common grain sack wrung 
out is very good. If the cow is inclined to keep dashing her 
head about, apply a check rope to the horns, in order to keep her 
from bruising her head or breaking off the horns. Do not at- 
