288 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



FUKTHER STUDIES ON THE PATHOLOGY OF THE REPRODUC- 

 TIVE ORGANS IN STERILITY. 



E. T. HALLMAN^ ANIMAL PATHOLOGIST^ MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL EXPER- 

 IMENT STATION. 



The cases referred to in this paper were ohtaiiied from four herds of 

 cattle in which abortion disease has been a more or less serious i)roblem 

 for the last six or eight years. 



The bacteriological investigations in connection with these cases were 

 conducted by the Department of Bacteriology. To Dr. Bandeen is due 

 the credit for the work on the first seven cases and to Dr. Stafseth for 

 the work on the remaining four. An effort was made in each case to 

 demonstrate the abortion bacillus. Cultural examinations and guinea 

 ])ig inoculations were made from the surface of the uterine mucosa in 

 the first seven cases and in the latter four cases, in addition to the 

 above, material obtained from the deeper layers of the mucosa. After 

 searing the surface with a hot iron, areas were selected which appeared 

 pathologic and small pieces of tissue from the deeper layers were removed 

 and ground in a mortar with sterile sand and physiological salt solu- 

 tion. Cultures and guinea pig inoculations were made from this ma- 

 terial. 



Not only were the guinea pigs subsequently killed and carefully 

 autopsied but appropriate tissues were taken from the guinea pigs and 

 tested culturally for Bact. abortus and their blood was tested with the 

 complement fixation and agglutination test for Bact. abortus antibodies. 

 All results were negative insofar as Bact. abortus was concerned. 



Case 808 was purchased as a yearling September 7, 1917 at which 

 time her blood was negative to abortion tests. September 23, 1917 twenty 

 five cubic centimeters of live culture of Bact. abortus were injected sub- 

 cutaneously. A positive reaction to the complement fixation and ag- 

 glutination tests developed October 5, 1917, and her blood remained 

 positive until the animal was killed. 



This animal was bred first on November 1st, 1917 and on several oc- 

 casions afterwards, but failed to conceive. Subsequent to February. 

 22, 1918 the animal was more or less constantly in heat. An examina- 

 tion on March 12, 1918 demonstrated a mucopurulent discharge in 

 vagina and a cystic left ovary. The cyst was crushed and the uterus 

 douched but there is no record of what was used in uterus. There are 

 no records of any subsequent treatment. Animal was slaughtered on 

 August 9, 1918. 



Macroscopic examination: Vagina contains a considerable quantity 

 of clear mucus not unlike the mucus of estrum. External os closed. 

 There is a small amount of adhesive mucus in cervical canal. Uterine 

 body three and one half centimeters in length; mucosa contains no 

 cotyledons; lumen small; wall apparently thickened and fibrous. Mucosa 

 of horns yellowish gray and moist, cotyledons three to five millimeters 

 in length and three millimeters in width. Oviducts apparently normal. 



