334 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Abortiox of Cows. 



Mr. J. W. Sturges, New-Berlin, Chenango county, N. Y. — I 

 have a diary of about 20 cows, and four of them have given pre- 

 mature births, the three last about ten days apart. There have 

 been several other cases in this vicinity. Feed has been hay, with 

 barley oat straw, and a few stalks. Stables are five feet, with a 

 four-inch drop, the same in use for several years. The dairymen 

 around can give me no remedy. 



Mr. Solon Robinson says. — On approach of the symptoms remove 

 the cow to a comfortable place, apart from other* Half a drachm 

 of opium and half an ounce of sweet spirits of nitre will allay pain 

 in the parts. Unless she is feeble, feed low. When abortion 

 takes place, the foetus should be buried thoroughly out of the way 

 of the other cows, as the smell is a strong stimulus. A dose of 

 ph^^sic and ergot of rye will remove dead matter. Wash with 

 warm water. 



As regards this being a contagious disorder, and past remedy, 

 there are great doubts. It would be well in the above case to 

 consider whatever there is not foul stuff in the straw, barley, and 

 even in the hay, more likely in the barley. Perhaps an entire 

 change of food, and even of sta1)les would be a remedy. This is 

 an important subject, and opinions differ. 



Adjourned. 



January 29, 1867. 

 Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair; John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



Mice in Orchards. 

 Mr. Seth Fenner, East Hamburg, Erie county, N. Y. : I have an 

 apple orchard of twenty acres, set six years ago, which has suf- 

 fered severely by mice this winter. In the ftiU I placed a mound 

 of earth around each tree a foot high. Altogether, we have had 

 snow full eight feet deep, and now, on a level, it is three feet. 

 The mice came above the mound, and have girdled my trees five 

 inches in diameter. I tried stamping down the snow, but it did 

 no good, and finally I have had to clear away the snow and bank 

 up the trees, which, in some cases I have done three feet high. 

 On most of the trees the inner bark is unscathed. The loss to 

 young orchards in parts of this county will be very great. Now 

 I wish to inquire of the Club if there is no wash that cheaply and 

 readily can be applied. 



