DROFPING AFTER CALVING. 
627 
exhibition of sedative medicine immediately on the completion 
of parturition, conjoined, of course, with the adoption of die¬ 
tetic and hygienic principles, than by the use of aperients. 
We quote an instance in point. A dairy of fine Jersey cows, 
the property of a gentleman, which were always grazed in a 
park, suffered annually from the malady to a serious extent. 
Thus, in 1868, out of a herd of sixteen, two died; in 1869, 
three; in 1870, three, and in 1871, three. 
We were then consulted, and suggested that the cows in 
the latter period of gestation should be supplied with less 
food, by being kept in the spring and summer for a few hours 
in the sheds, be regularly exercised, milked if the state of the 
mammary glands permitted prior to calving, take salines 
occasionally, such as nitrate and bicarbonate of potash with 
the hypersulphite of soda in moderate quantities, viz. from 
two to three drachms of the nitrate and four to six of the 
other preparations; and that immediately on the completion of 
labour a full dose of tincture of opium—an ounce and half to 
two ounces—mixed with an equal quantity of spirits of nitric 
ether should be administered. The result was even more 
satisfactory than could have been hoped for, no animal having 
died since 1871 in the herd from parturient apoplexy. 
It is not to be expected that in all cases a result like this 
will be attained, but we have no hesitation in saying that the 
system of administering a sedative agent has answered our 
full expectation, and succeeded far better than any other. 
We may add to these remarks one other prophylactic 
measure, but w hich would scarcely be carried out to the full 
extent, unless, as was the case in the nobleman's herd, failures 
continued to occur which it was determined to prevent if 
possible. The measure alluded to is never to run the risk of 
a fourth calving, but to fatten or sell all the cow 7 s in turn after 
producing their third calf. 
We may thus summarise prevention: part with all the old 
cow r s milk late in utero-gestation, and resume it if possible 
immediately before delivery; enforce daily walking exercise, 
although the animals may be at pasture ; adopt means to lessen 
the continued supply of rich food ; avoid over-repletion of the 
stomachs after calving; bleed before parturition in cases of 
plethora; give aperient medicine and follow with salines; 
keep the animals as free from excitement as possible after 
delivery, and early administer a full dose of tincture of opium. 
Other sedatives, such as chloral hydrate, might be combined 
with the opium, and perhaps with advantage ; but of such a 
combination we have had no experience. 
