Parturient Apoplexy, So-called "Milk Fever" or "Dropping After Calving."

Manawatu Herald, 1 September 1894, Page 3

Parturient Apoplexy, So-called "Milk Fever" or "Dropping After Calving."

(New Zealand Department of * Agriculture.) By John A. Gilruth, M.8.C.V.5., Government Veterinarian. This disease affects chiefly deep- .- -milking cows in good condition, and -/Beldom before the birth of the third A.* calf, the period of attack as a rule being from twelve to thirty-six hours after calving. The first symptoms are listlessness and shivering, with a diminished or suspended secretion of milk. Then gradually the patient becomes worse, sways from side to side and ultimately falls, after which she usually lies in a state of stupor, but in some cases the head is dashed about convulsively and feeble efforts made to rise. The tendency is to lie on one side, tho head being kept persistently towards the shoulder or fully stretched out with the mouth open. As death approaches, the stupor becomes more and more intense ; the eye grows glazed, sunken, and insensible to light ; the limbs are stretched out ; and the breathing becomes stertorous. Death often supervenes almost suddenly. Treatment, unless ofa preventive oharacter, is often attended with bad results owing to the semi-comatose state of the animal. Whilst in the standing position liquids may be given without much danger if due care be exercised ; but after the patient is down it is not advisable for any one without considerable experience to administer drugs. Reflex action being almost abolished, liquids are apt to. enter the windpipe. and cause death in a few minutes by suffocation or ultimately by bronchopneumonia. When the animal is first noticed to be suffering she should be carefully housed, if possible, and warmly clothed. If down she should be propped on her breast by bundles of straw, sacks of chaff, &c. Bleeding is not advisable. As regards medical treatment : of . the various agenfcs that have been tried, perhaps chloral hydrate in conjunction with bromide of potassium, given in doses of from two to five , .drams at intervals of two hours, ■produce the most satisfactory results. •These are given in liquid form, v '.'Occasionally along with other mcdi- '• cines ; and I would recommend dairy farmers, when practicable, to obtain their supply through any qualified veterinary surgeon, whose knowledge of pharmacy as applied to the lower: animals will insure the presence of proper, proportions and suitable quantity* •' * Wben administering medicine it is al^ay advisable to be extremely careful, r and if the animal coughs the head should be immediately released. After a cow is attacked with partudent apoplexy I consider it inadvisable to give purgative medicines, as^they cannot alone restore the functional activity of the alimentary canal, and only succeed in disturbing the patient. Of preventive measures, the best is to leave the calf with the mother for three or four days till all danger of •• milk fever "is past. Some object to tbis on account of trouble afterwards, but as a rule ensuing difh* eulties can be easily overcome. For heavy-milking cows in good condition it is a safe precaution to put them for some weeks before calving in a paddock rather scarce of food, and to administer a strong saline purgative a day or two previous to the time of calving. Wellington, August, 1894.