VETERINARY PROBLEMS. 51 



contact with a bull that has served cows that have aborted, 

 and that the disease is communicated in that way. 



Mr. Hadwen. I believe that as much information has 

 been derived from this discussion here as we have ever re- 

 ceived from works written upon the subject. Of course, 

 there have been twenty reasons given here this afternoon for 

 abortion, and all of them, perhaps, are good, and for aught 

 we know there are twenty more that are equally good. 

 Every gentleman who has spoken upon the subject, that has 

 had experience in keeping cows, must acknowledge the fact 

 that they have had abortion in their herds, and they have all 

 tried various remedies, with more or less success. I have 

 had experience for forty years, and have attributed it to 

 various reasons, and have never found any sure remedy, and 

 never expect to ; but I do think that cows kept in good con- 

 ■dition, in a pure atmosphere, with good and nutritious food, 

 with good care, where they cannot fight each other, where 

 there is no danger of fright by dogs or by lightning, if you 

 please, or from any cause, or, if you succeed in avoiding 

 €rgot in the hay or pasture, will have little of abortion. I 

 think that the farmers must give their best care to their cat- 

 tle in order to prevent it, and study all the causes and all the 

 remedies ; and I hope that, having investigated this subject, 

 and having discussed it, as we have in this meeting, all of us 

 will be profited by the discussion and be able to remedy the 

 evil in our herds. 



Mr. Sessions. Mr. Noble's suggestion that abortion was 

 caused by the lack of phosphates and salt, leads me to state 

 something of my own experience. I keep thoroughbred 

 cows and breed them as long as they will breed. I have on 

 my farm to-day a cow that is fourteen years old, that has 

 bred me eleven calves. She is hearty and strong ; never 

 has had any appearance of abortion. It has been my cus- 

 tom to feed a great deal of wheat shorts, rich in phosphates. 

 I have also salted my cows liberally twice a week, and the 

 feeding of the bran has been as much, perhaps, with the idea 

 that the animals needed phosphates from the lack of them in 

 our pastures. It is pretty light food. It occurred to me 

 while Mr. Noble was speaking that it was possible my ex- 

 emption from this plague might have been for the reason he 



