ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 549 



posed to be infected with foot-and-mouth disease, notably from 

 one of the state institutions, which had recently Imported cattle 

 from one of the states mentioned. Upon investigation it was found 

 that these animals were infected with cow pox, which yielded 

 readily to treatment. 



Circular No. 141 of the Bureau of Animal Industry contains a 

 thorough description of this disease and methods for its treatment 

 and eradication. 



CONTAGIOUS ABORTION. 



General abortion among mares was investigated in Wayne and 

 adjoining counties. 



While this disease does not appear to be prevalent in the state at 

 the present time, there are no doubt a number of cases which have 

 not been reported. 



The following article on "Contagious Abortion of Cattle," writ- 

 ten by Dr. F. J. Neiman, treats of the nature of this disease. 



This is quite an old disease, and while I have nothing new in partic- 

 ular to offer on the subject, my observation would indicate that the 

 disease is not on the increase, only an occasional outbreak confined to a 

 farm, or an adjoining farm being called to my attention. 



No doubt, the disease is due to a micro-organism, but whether or not 

 the bacteriologists have isolated the germ, that fulfills Koch's postulates, 

 I am not prepared to say. According to European and American investi- 

 gators, there are several species of micro-organisms that will produce 

 the disease. 



The manner of infection is usually directly due to an infected bull 

 during copulation, although, occasionally, the infection is transmitted 

 indirectly by the animal coming in contact with infected material, either 

 through the digestive or respiratory tracts. 



No aborting animals should be bred until after two or three oestrums. 

 Bulls which have served cows of infected herds, should not be permitted 

 to serve healthy cows for some time. Careful local disinfection should 

 be carried out and the animal withdrawn from the stand. Where value is 

 not too great, I would advise that they be isolated, fatted, and sold for 

 slaughter. This would apply to the female as well. 



Taking into consideration the long period of incubation and the re- 

 sisting power of the micro-organism causing the disease, sanitary meas- 

 ures require time and isolation of infected animals, especially those 

 aborting. The resisting power of the animal gradually increases until 

 after two or three abortions, the animal becomes immune. 



Some become sterile after an attack, but this is not usually the case, 

 and the time required to establish immunity is too long, and the loss is 



