FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 785 



into the sheath beside the penis, the foreskin is held together with 

 the fingers and the antiseptic is poured into the funnel. 



6. The long hair at the end of the bull's sheath should be cut 

 off. Moreover it is well to clip the hair from under the belly over 

 a circle one foot in diameter surrounding this opening of the sheath. 

 Then, by washing with a sponge, this area can be easily cleaned 

 before each service. 



7. Wash off the external genitals of each cow every day. For 

 this purpose use any of the antiseptics recommended above. They 

 can be applied with a clean sponge. The parts washed should com- 

 prise the root of the tail, the anus, the vulva and the surrounding 

 skin for a distance of several inches, and the corresponding por- 

 tions of the tail. A separate bucket and sponge should be used 

 for the cows that are pregnant and those that have recently aborted. 



8. Do not breed a cow for about ten weeks after she has aborted. 

 About ten weeks are required for the thorough treatment of a cow 

 that has aborted and she should not be bred before the expiration 

 of this period. If she shows any discharge or other indication of 

 vaginal catarrh, she should not be bred for a longer period, or 

 until the parts are in entirely normal condition. The last in- 

 jection two days prior to service should be a two per cent solution 

 of bicarbonate of soda. 



9. A solution of carbolic acid may be administered subcuta- 

 neously to each pregnant cow. For this purpose use a three per 

 cent solution of carbolic acid, and of this inject two drams every 

 ten days. Should this cause swelling in some individuals, for 

 these use a smaller amount. This treatment is highly recom- 

 mended. 



Salt Mixture. A mixture made up as follows is highly recom- 

 mended by a number of the leading dairy farmers and may be 

 used in connection with treatment number 0; ten pounds of sul- 

 phur, six pounds copperas, three pounds saltpetre, three pounds 

 air slacked lime, one pound asofetida. 



One pound of the above mixture is mixed with each ten pounds 

 of salt and place where the animals can eat what they desire. 



The herd on the college dairy farm was handled in the manner out- 

 lined above upon the outbreak of contagious abortion a few years 

 ago and the trouble soon ceased. The above treatment, except 

 the use of the salt mixture, was recommended by members of the 

 Veterinary Department of Iowa State College. 



METHYLENE BLUE TREATMENT. 



In bulletin No. 174 from the Vermont Experiment Station Dr. F. 

 A. Rich reports that by beginning early in pregnancy the use 

 of methylene blue, infectious abortion may be stopped. He states 

 that, "10 to 15 grains (1-3 to % oz.) doses (in capsules) should 

 be given night and morning for seven days, and that after a four 

 weeks' interval the treatment should be repeated for another seven 

 days and continued at four week intervals during the period of 

 gestation." It may be administered by introducing the capsules in- 

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