12 
A. ROUX. 
This disease may be affirmed to be peculiar to the cow, although 
it has been sometimes observed in dogs and goats. It usually 
appears a few hours after delivery, but more commonly two or 
three days elapse before its appearance. According to some 
writers, it has been observed after twelve or fourteen days. I 
believe, however, that these must have been cases of metritis, 
metroperitonitis or septicaemia. 
When the disease shows itself soon after parturition, it is 
ushered in by manifest symptoms, such as: intermittent chills of 
short duration, with coldness of skin ; a degree of stiffness of the 
body ; sometimes spasmodic contractions of the extremities, form¬ 
ing the first sign of the paraplegic variety; a cessation of rumina¬ 
tion ; an anxious and painful expression of the face; restlessness, 
shown by flinging the tail about; a disposition to strike with the 
horns; straining in urinating. After a few hours the animal lies 
down, in sternal decubitus and generally on the right side. It is 
usually not until this moment that the veterinarian is called upon 
for assistance, and this is to be regretted, for the disease has by 
this time made dangerous progress. Besides, usually the patient 
has already been dosed with various drugs, which, if she is to be 
killed, have rendered her meat unfit for human consumption. It 
is for these reasons that these first symptoms ought to be well 
known by agriculturists and breeders, in order that they may not 
neglect to call assistance upon the earliest appearance of danger. 
The animal, still lying on her right side, looks toward her left 
flank; there is great depression of the whole organism ; the ani¬ 
mal resembles an inert mass, almost unconscious of whatever may 
be done to her. This condition is properly called by Fabre, the 
collapse of parturition. There is great loss of strength: the eye 
is dull; the pupils are largely dilated; the cornea is motionless; 
the ears are drooping and cool; the pulse small and quick, from 
80 to 90 ; the temperature has risen two or three degrees; the 
animal moans and grinds her teeth; the respiration is stertorous; 
the mouth is filled with abundant saliva; the visible mucous 
membranes are pale, except those of the genital organs, which are 
always more or less tumified; the vagina is dry ; constipation is 
persistent; the manure coated ; at times there is diarrhoea; the 
