110 THE VETERINAEIAN 



coming in contact with litter on floors when lying down or 

 rubbing against fences, walls or posts previously soiled 

 by aborting cows. Cattle licking one another is also a 

 prolific cause. 



Symptoms: The signs of calving are not so well 

 marked as in normal calving, especially where the abort- 

 ing animal is a heifer and the gestation period has not 

 exceeded three or four weeks. In cows, especially where 

 the gestation period has advanced to five or seven 

 months, the symptoms are easily detected as a rule by a 

 swelling of the udder, or what is commonly termed ^^ mak- 

 ing bag,'' the outer portions of the womb swollen and 

 inflamed as in normal calving. As the period of abor- 

 tion approaches, there will be a discharge of mucus and 

 blood from the womb. Labor pains are not as severe as 

 in normal calving, owing to the absence of hair on the 

 foetus and being smaller; although the afterbirth (foetal 

 membranes), may be retained the same as in normal 

 calving. 



Pkeventive Treatment: This perhaps is the cheap- 

 est and best method of treating Contagious Abortion. 

 When purchasing bulls or cows, ascertain whether the 

 farm you purchased from has Contagious Abortion. An 

 investigation of this kind often saves labor, time and 

 money. 



Medical Treatment: When once Contagious Abor- 

 tion makes its appearance, separate infected from non- 

 infected animals, remove all litter, manure, etc., from 

 barns, corrals, and burn or bury deeply. The convey- 

 ances used should be tight so as to prevent scattering. 

 Scrub and disinfect floors, fences, walls of i)arns and rub- 

 bing posts with a solution made from three pounds of 

 Copper Sulphate to ten gallons of water, permitting it 

 to thoroughly dissolve before using. Use an ordinary 

 barrel and cover so as to prevent any cattle drinking 

 same, as it is very poisonous. When a cow aborts, re- 

 move the calf and afterbirth in a tight receptacle that 



