Microhk Diseases Individually Considered. 325 



animals. These germs, among which is often found 

 a micrococcus, isolated or in chains, are also present 

 in the amniotic fluid, in the digestive canal of the 

 aborted calves, as well as in the substance of the 

 medulla oblongata of those individuals whicb during 

 life gave utterance to the peculiar lowing sound just 

 referred to. N"ocard thinks that these germs give rise 

 to a disease of the foetus and its envelopes, the mother 

 remaining healthy. He explains the repeated abortion 

 by the persistence of these germs in the womb, and 

 the sterility by the acid reaction which they produce 

 in the uterine secretions. 



The invasion of a stable by this disease generally 

 coincides with the introduction of a pregnant infected 

 cow ; abortion then occurs annually in a certain num- 

 ber of animals in this stable. The lengthy period of 

 incubation of the disease implies an early infection. 



Galtier thinks that the disease is due to a general 

 infection of the mother, which communicates the dis- 

 ease to the foetus. Calves which are not prematurely 

 expelled will still harbor the germs, and these germs 

 produce the pneumo-enteritis which occasions such 

 ravages in these animals. 



In short, epizootic abortion appears to depend on 

 multiple causes which are yet to be discovered, but 

 in all cases the method of treatment laid down by 

 ISTocard is to be recommended. (1) 



(1) The prophylactic measures recommended are as follows : 



1. Each week the floor of the stable should be scraped, thor- 

 oughly cleansed, and sprinkled with a solution of sulphate of 

 copper: 40 grams to the litre. 



2. Each week from the date of conception the vagina of the 



