149 



has been smeared with infection from an aborting sub- 

 ject. The cow goes out to pasture; the filth dries and 

 is scattered over the rump by the switching tail. Some 

 ii:erms lodge upon the vulva and find their way into the 

 vagina (6) where they multiply with prodigious rapid- 

 ity. The germs are actively motile, and make their 

 way through the os uteri (7) into the uterus or inner 

 division of the womb (8), thence through the horns of 

 the womb (9 and 10), and possibly up the Fallopian 

 f tubes (5) to the prides or ovaries (4). 



Kemembering the catarrh caused by the microbe, it 



• would be strange indeed if its presence in the small 



; Fallopian tubes did not sometimes result in obliteration 



\ of the passage and sterility. In fact, many animals do 



become sterile. 



The existence of the Microbe in the Womb. 



The indications are that the germ causing abortion 

 remains in the infected womb for years, though no 

 more than one, two or three abortions may occur. This 

 is not incompatible with our knowledge of germ life. A 

 little blood from one of our Southern cattle, apparently 

 in perfect health, injected into the circulation of cattle 

 brought from the North is followed by violent fever, 

 typical of Southern cattle, or Texas fever. In this -way 

 it is proved that an animal which has had no fever for 

 one, two or more years harbors the living parasite in 

 its blood, and is capable of transmitting the disease to 

 susceptible animals. Authorities are now agreed that 

 the infection causing swine plague, often mistaken for 

 hog cholera, live in the lungs of the pig after recovery 

 from the acute attack, and continues to be a source 

 of infection for other pigs many months and possibly 

 years. This explains the reason the disease breaks 

 out year after year when once introduced. 



