218 ABOETION OB SLINKING. 



liable to abort between the fifth and eighth month. 

 At some seasons, from causes not fully explained, 

 but supposed to be atmospheric, cows are very 

 liable to slink their calves, and when it occurs in a 

 herd it is very liable to extend to others, and may 

 become very general unless proper measures are 

 taken to arrest it. 



Aside from the endemic or epidemic causes 

 adverted to, the more common occasions of 

 slinking are : Blows, falls, strains, severe ex- 

 ertions, and injuries, or other forcible or violent 

 movements ; severe illness, such as consumption, 

 hoove, inflammation of the bowels, especially if 

 caused by eating grass covered with hoar frost \ 

 eating herbs which grow in low marshy places ; 

 drinking water impregnated with iron ; intercourse 

 with the bull during pregnancy ; exposure to foul 

 smells arising from decayed animal matter, especial- 

 ly if it be the cleansing of a cow that has just slunk ; 

 over-fed cows are more liable to miscarry than those 

 in moderate condition ; suddenly placing a lean, 

 starved cow upon a rich pasture, or a fat cow upon 

 poor food ; fright may produce it. A cow who has 

 once aborted is almost certain to do so again. 



SYMPTOMS. The indications which should warn 

 an owner that his cow is about to miscarry are often 

 unnoticed, unless he is particularly observing. They 

 are as follows : Dullness ; loss of spirits ; want of ap- 

 petite ; loss of cud ; more or less completely arrested 

 secretion of milk; hollow flanks ; enlargement of the 



