DROPPING AFTER CALVING. 
579 
the bronchial tubes. In such cases death depends not 
directly on the apoplectic state of the brain and spinal mar¬ 
row, but upon suffocation—asphyxia. 
The tympanitic state of the rumen, apart from the eructa¬ 
tions, adds greatly to the animal’s suffering, by impeding the 
breathing, and thereby adding to the difficulty of the circu¬ 
lation. Exacerbations of suffering are well marked through¬ 
out, and are accompanied with spasmodic twitchings and 
often with painful convulsions. The cow no longer rests on 
the belly, but struggles to get on her side, in doing which the 
head falls heavily on the floor, and generally in a line with 
the body. No effort on the part of those in attendance can 
prevent these spasms. Convulsion succeeds convulsion, only 
to cease with death. Such, in brief, are the symptoms which 
mark the. existence and progress of parturient apoplexy. 
The duration of the disease varies, and, as can be readily 
understood, the recoveries are very few. The majority of the 
animals are found to sink in twenty to twenty-four hours 
from the attack. Life is rarely prolonged more than forty- 
eight hours; indeed, it often ceases within four to six hours 
in cases w T hich are accompanied with convulsions from the 
beginning. 
In some instances the disease assumes a less various type, 
and the cow is found to retain consciousness for a short time 
after dropping, to be followed, however, by coma, usually 
within the first twelve hours, all the leading phenomena of 
the malady following in due course. Such cases are none the 
less fatal on this account; but in the still rarer instances in 
which the animal does not exhibit a complete withdrawal of 
consciousness the recovery is pretty certain. It would appear 
that, in such cases as these, the vessels of the spinal marrow 
only are in an apoplectic condition, those of the brain being 
congested, but not to engorgement. 
Occasionally, however, even in cases in which complete 
coma is present for twenty-four hours or upwards, the animal 
has been found to rally. Throughout the attack the cow has 
lain quiet, convulsions have had hardly any existence, and 
spasmodic twitchings of muscles have been only slightly 
marked. Returning consciousness is the most favorable 
indication of recovery, especially if associated with a tempo¬ 
rary recognition of the calf, a desire to partake of water or 
other fluid, a passing away of the tympanitic state of the belly, 
and a return of the functions of the bowels. In these cases 
the warmth comes back to the extremities, the pulse becomes 
distinct and regular, and the breathing unaccompanied with 
stertor. The animal soon rises under such favorable con- 
