LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 145 
with the cow for a few days ; and I find as many cases of the dis¬ 
ease, indeed more in proportion to the number of the cows kept, 
than in the north of Scotland, where they almost invariably re¬ 
move the calf as soon as dropped. 
I have frequently bled in the first stage of the disease, but 
wfith no good result, rather the contrary, as it tends to excite 
them too much, frequently producing convulsions and the con¬ 
ditions described by Mr. Bleming as resulting from anaemia. In 
the comatose stage I have found bleeding frequently remove or 
alleviate the brain symptoms, but only temporarily. So that I 
regard bleeding as of little consequence as a curative agent, the 
nervous system being too much implicated to be benefited by 
such a powerful depletant. Bleeding to be useful must be had 
recourse to earlier, even before calving, although it is seldom 
done; but I have no doubt from the nature of the affection it 
would be a preventive if we could always determine what cows 
were to become affected. 
In the second stage, where the animal is down, but not coma¬ 
tose, I proceed on the same principles of moderate stimulation— 
cathartics—with embrocations along the spine. If the tempera¬ 
ture is low, I frequently use a hot smoothing-iron along the sides 
of the spine and across the loins with good effect, by preventing 
it getting lower or reviving it. Empty the rectum and bladder, 
draw the teats frequently, and endeavour to make the animal as 
comfortable as possible by placing and keeping her in a natural 
position. 
At this stage of the disease I have frequently had good effects 
from the application of galvanism; the two poles of a battery 
being placed one on each side of the spine in the lumbar region, 
and well pressed down by an assistant with a folded sack or some 
such non-conductor over them. In all stages of the disease, un¬ 
less the first, when the cow is still standing, I find galvanism 
beneficial; in it the excitement is too great, and it invariably 
does harm. 
If an animal survives twenty-four hours after being first ob¬ 
served, and no marked comatose symptoms present, my experi¬ 
ence is that recovery may be safely predicted, if no complication 
arise or previous disease of any organ, such as the lungs or liver, 
exist. 
If it is an acute attack, and comatose symptoms suddenly show 
themselves, and the animal is in very high condition, I consign her 
to the butcher, for my experience is that the animals very seldom 
recover, whatever treatment you adopt. I consider it more in the 
interest of science to admit your inability to cope with an incur¬ 
able condition than to exhibit your ignorance and incompetence 
by attempting it. 
