512 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



point of view it is not necessary to go into the more minute details of 

 the different stages of development of the foetus and the periods when 

 the mishap may occur. The common causes of abortion in cows are due 

 to external injuries, such as one animal butting another, squeezing through 

 narrow places, slipping and falling, kicks from vicious attendants. In ract 

 any injury to the abdomen may produce it. 



Causes of a more obscure nature are internal, such as an abnormal 

 or diseased condition of the uterus, inflammation of the bowels, kidney, 

 bladder or lungs, indigestion in the acute or chronic form, evolution of 

 gas in the intestines sufficient to cause an irritation to the uterus or 

 interfere with its circulation, diarrhoea, whether caused by irritant 

 food or reckless use of purgatives. The presence of a calculus in the 

 kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra, may cause a sympathetic disorder 

 of the uterus and expulsion of its contents, also irritant poisons that 

 act on the urino-genital organs, such as cantharides, savin, tansey, 

 ergot (rye smut), and various fungi found in decomposing vegetable 

 matter. 



Another cause, and one of great importance, is bad ventilation, or. 

 any like condition that interferes with the normal oxidation of the blood. 

 The importance of keeping pregnant animals in well ventilated stables 

 can be seen at a glance when you take into consideration the condition 

 of their blood, which contains an excess of water and a smaller propor- 

 tion of albumen and red globules. This condition, aggravated by bad 

 ventilation, decomposing animal and vegetable matter, poor food and 

 stagnant water, is almost certain to produce abortion. 



The dam with all the diseases and accidents that may be forced on 

 her is not alone responsible for abortion. To the sire a great deal of 

 this trouble is due, and this should not be lost sight of as he plays a 

 prominent part in the transmission of this disease. 



In the first place it is not reasonable to suppose a sire that is over- 

 worked can produce a strong and vigorous spermatozoa. No, the con- 

 ditions are directly opposite and when this weakened spermatozoa comes 

 in contact with the ovum the chemical constituent will be of a debilitated 

 character, which will, if it develops, ultimately cause disease of the 

 foetus or its envelope. Furthermore, this overworked sire is in a 

 condition by the weakened state of his generative organs to furnish 

 a favorable field for the development of vigorous micro-organisms, which, 

 when the act of copulation is performed, are carried to the vagina, and 

 together with the spermatozoa, enter the uterus and there develop, 

 causing disease of the foetus, or its envelope, which may bring about 

 abortion, or if not, the offspring may be diseased. 



Another cause, and of great importance, is infection. In some instances 

 its origin is obscure but the majority of outbreaks can be traced to 

 neglected cases of simple or accidental abortion. In this division of 

 the causes it no longer remains a doubt as to the pathogenic agent as 

 science has proven beyond a doubt that it is due to a micro-organism. 

 (I will not attempt to advance any new theory or give a name to this 

 organism as the authors of today are seemingly exploding their theories 

 of yesterday). However, such conditions exist and we are called upon 



