The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-04-05
PARTURIENT APOPLEXY
SYMPTOMS.


To lie Editor Of The Cecil Wing:
In many cases the symptoms appear
ming its course to fatal termination in
very few days; but generally the dis
ease shows some premonitory symptoms
before it sets in with much violence; such
as, the COW hangs her head: ceases to eat,
occasionpg the snspending of rumina-
ton: moves one or both hind feet as if
she was padding with them; the flow of
milk is almost it not entirely stopped; the
breathing becomes quickened anc labor
ed: the animal sways from one side to the
other: the hind legs double over at the
fetlock aud at last the animal falls down,
generally never to rise again. All the
visible mucous membranes are more or
less congested, the eyes being very much
redeemed, and tears flow abundantly from
them. The ears. horns and head become
intensely hot, the animal either lies III
state of stupor (coma,) or else she is
dashing herself violently about, (deliri-
Gus, sometimes breaking off one OF both
horns, some of the teeth, OF else fractur-
ing some of the bones of the head, all of
which help to intensity the sutferings of
the animal, as we'll as aggravate the
symptoms of the disease. In many cases
the animal will lie with the head directly
in front of the body, or else to one side,
the mouth resting on the floor, with the
eyes closed, occasionally eliciting moan
or snoring sound, the animal appears
lifeless, no attention is paid to any noise
surrounding her; if the head be lifted
from the floor it falls back again like
some lifeless body, and is immediately
turned around to the side. The power of
sight is lost early in the disease, the eyes
being amaurotic: the power of swallow
ing is also lost, either partially or en-
tirely. The pulse Is quick, small and
almost imperceptible; the breathing more
and more difficult; the temperature gem
orally is almost normal, when delirium is
present. the temperature extends very
high. but on the appearance of coma, it
falls rapidly and is very seldom seen
above 101 or 10a +.
In some cases commissions set in, but
in others the animal gradually sinks and
dies while in the c0matoSe state. In other
cases the symptoms of delrium are very
violent, and animals while in this condi-
ton bruise AID injure themselves SO
badly, that were the owner to assist death
to carry off the patient, he would indeed
be doing humane act.
Sometimes the animal will prick up its
ears, look around the stable, try to eat or
drink, (whie drinking they will put the
mouth down to the bottom of the pail,
no matter how much water there may be
in the pail, they will nibble at little
apparent improvement, leading the owner
to hope for recovery, but to his disap
poiptment, she soon falls back again into
the severe symptoms of the disease and
death soon carries her off.
The constipation, and sometimes COM
plete loss of action of the bowels, is pre-
duced by paralysis Of the muscular coats
of thewalls of the intestines, which arrests
their peristaltic action. The URN is pale
and of limited quantity, it contains no
albumen. but is heavily charged with
urea; this urea is retained in the blad-
der. which having lost its power of con-
tractihty, affords ample opportunity for
the development of ureanic poisoning.
TREATMENT.
Our first duty is to employ all mea-
sures to prevent the disease AS have
stated above, it is generally seen in large
milking. plethoric animals. For two or
three weeks previous to the calvins, re-
strictions should be imposed on the diet,
not as to the amount of foed to be given
but upon that most likely to be of a fat
tening quality, or of producing too much
milk. Some herds of cattle, that are al
ways kept in the best condition, that is,
fat and milking we'll, sometimes escape
visitation of this disease. but generally
the disease is most rife among animals
in this condition, and as we can reduce
the number of cases of milk fever by de-
creasing our fat dairy stock, it is our
duty to do so. Not only does the ami
NAL SO treated become less liable to an
attack of this disease, but she is render
ed able to ward off many Of the serious
complications liable to arise during the
OF low, laxative character. The I'D