142 FARM ANIMALS 



the attempt to develop means for the extermination 

 of the cattle tick. 



Abortion. This term is used to mean prema- 

 ture birth of the calf from whatever causes. In 

 many cases it may be due to the sudden onset of 

 some disease accompanied with high fever or to 

 bloating or other digestive disturbances. Occasion- 

 ally abortion is caused by eating grass or grain 

 infested with ergot. This form of abortion, how- 

 ever, does not accjuire much importance. The 

 most serious form is infectious and is transmitted 

 from one member of the herd to another, espe- 

 cially from the bull to the cow. Cows which have 

 once aborted are thereafter rendered useless for 

 breeding purposes for the reason that it is usually 

 impossible to sterilize thoroughly the reproductive 

 organs of the cow. The only treatment for this 

 disease, which at times assumes very serious 

 proportions, is one of antisepsis, that is, the re- 

 productive organs and the hind quarters of the 

 aborted cow should be thoroughly washed with a 

 solution of corrosive sublimate in water at the 

 rate of one part in one thousand or a one per cent, 

 solution of carbolic acid or some similar disin- 

 fectant. The aborted calf and the membranes 

 should also be burned or otherwise destroyed so 

 as to prevent the spread of the infection. 



Anthrax is one of the oldest-known infectious 

 diseases and is called charbon in the southern 

 states and sometimes carbuncular disease. It 

 affects not only cattle, but also sheep, goats, horses, 

 dogs, cats and other carnivorous animals. The 

 disease may also be transmitted to man. In one 

 form of anthrax the animal suddenly falls down 

 and dies without the existence of previous symp- 

 toms. In acute cases the disease begins with a 



