94 Contagious Abortion 



SYMPTOMS 



The discharge thrown off at the vagina is often a dirty yellowish 

 white instead of a clear white. To find a premature calf either in the 

 field or lot may be the first evidence and often we try to convince our- 

 selves it's due to bank climbing, butting, or slipping as we know of no 

 abortion in the community but as we Reflect our bull has served a neigh- 

 bor's cow we have bought a previously used bull or brought into the 

 herd some new stock. Straining may be the first evidence seen. Often- 

 times difficult calving with a high per cent of loss of the calves 

 is the first trouble we encounter. If the calves are born alive they are 

 often indifferent about nursing. It is seldom that all the cows of a herd 

 abort. However the ones failing to abort the first year may abort the 

 following year thus continually transmit it to the younger cows if pro- 

 per steps of prevention are not taken. The cows usually have more diffi- 

 culty in shedding the afterbirth than normal cows which is partly due to 

 premature birth of the calves. 



TREATMENT 



The afterbirths should be removed and burned with all infectious 

 material where the birth took place. The afterbirth can be removed by 

 pinching the buttons or cotyledons loose from the wall of the womb with 

 the thumb and fingers. 



After removing the afterbirth, wash the womb out by the use of a 2 

 foot piece of rubber tubing (see cut on page 17, fig. 7.) Place in 

 one end a funnel and place the other end in the womb. Pour a mix- 

 ture of % level tablespoonful of potassium permanganate in 1 gallon 

 of water into the womb; repeat every two days for one week. A new 

 method with which I have had very good success in the removal of the 

 afterbirth is to plug up the opening to the womb with a role of bandage 

 to which is tied a soft strong cord. Also tie a similar cord to the after- 

 birth. Leave the plug in from 5 to 7 days examining every day or so to 

 see that the bandage plug is still in the womb opening. After 5 days 

 the afterbirth can often be easily removed. The plug is to keep the 

 opening of the womb from closing. Turpentine held under the navel 

 seems to be of benefit in the removal of the afterbirth in some cows. 

 Treat both the effected and the pregnant cows as follows to prevent 

 farther aborting. Mix 5 tablespoonsful or 21/2 ounces of pure crystals 

 of carbolic acid in I/2 gallon of water. With a hollow needle hypoder- 



