332 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



In the use of sour whey it is suggested tliat for the first' day or two 

 nfler ;il)(»r<iou Ihe nforino cnvit.v may be irrigated willi jdiysiological salt 

 solution before introducing the sour whey. 



Brecdiufi of affected catilc. No cow should be bred as long as there 

 is any discharge from the genitals. Usually several months should in- 

 tervene between abortion and subsequent breeding. The cow to be 

 bred should have the external genitals and adjacent parts cleansed with 

 a disinfectant. The inferior abdominal surface and the sheath of the 

 bull should also be cleansed both before and after service. A 1 to 50 

 solution of compound solution of cresol or 1 to 1000 solution of 

 bichloride of mercury may be used for cleansing the external parts of 

 the cow and bull. This can be applied more effectively by scrubbing 

 with a brush. 



Treatment of hull. For irrigating the sheath of the bull a % of 1 per 

 cent solution of compound solution of cresol nmy be used. The method 

 of irrigating the sheath of the bull is as follows: Use the same equip- 

 ment as used in making uterine injections. Insert the tube into the 

 sheath a distance of 3 to 4 inches. Grasp the sheath with one hand and 

 hold tightly around tube so as to prevent leakage; have attendant pour 

 solution into funnel and let gravitate into sheath. Still holding the 

 sheath, massage carefully with the other hand so as to force the solu- 

 tion into all the folds and hold this solution in the sheath 2 to 3 min- 

 utes. Repeat once or twice. 



CONCLUSION. 



Infected mill'. We have much faith in the above plan where persist- 

 ently carried out. There is yet one possible difficulty, if not more, in 

 the way of eliminating this disease. We cannot speak from experience 

 on this point but we are now conducting an experiment which we hope 

 will throw light on it. We refer to the possibility of calves becoming in- 

 fected through milk from infected animals. Some work has been done 

 on the presence of the abortus bacillus in milk with interesting results. 

 Cows are known to have excreted this organism in their milk for a per- 

 iod of two to four years. This being true and if calves are susceptible 

 to infection by the abortus bacillus while on a milk diet, another seri- 

 ous problem presents itself for solution. Mr. L. H. Cooledge of this 

 laboratory has isolated directly from milk of aborting cows organisms 

 corresponding to Bact. aiortus. He has also shoAvn that the milk serum 

 of some aborting cows is capable of producing the agglutination and 

 complement fixation reactions in the same manner as does the blood 

 serum of these cows. 



However, it is possible that there is no cause for alarm on account of 

 this circumstance. It may be possible that this will prove to be a valu- 

 able prophylactic feature. In other words the consumption of quanti- 

 ties of milk containing the abortus bacillus day after day by the calf 

 may result in the production of an active immunity. While our own 

 experimental work with the use of living cultures of the abortus bac- 

 illus in the production of immunity is not encouraging, their use is re- 

 ported on favorably by some. Further researches are necessary to re- 

 veal the truth. On the other hand, Prof. Williams urges the use of 



