DISEASES OF CATTLE 173 



Moore, of New York, constantly found organisms differing somewhat 

 in the two States, but evidently of the same group with the colon 

 germ (Bacillus coli communis). These were never found in the 

 healthy pregnant womb, but in the cow that had aborted they con- 

 tinued to live in that organ for many months after the loss of 

 the fetus. 



We may reasonably conclude that any micro-organism which! 

 can live in or on the lining membrane of the womb producing a 

 catarrhal inflammation, and which can be transferred from animal 

 to animal without losing its vitality or potency, is of necessity a 

 cause of contagious abortion. As viewed, therefore, from the partic- 

 ular germ that may be present, we must recognize not one form 

 only of contagious abortion, but several, each due to its own infecting 

 germ, and each differing from others in minor particulars, like 

 duration of incubation, infection of the general system, and the like. 

 In Europe the germs discovered seem to affect the general system 

 much more than do those found in America. Bang^s germ caused 

 abortion in twenty-one days; the New York germ, inoculated at 

 service, often fails to cause abortion before the fifth or seventh 

 month. 



Symptoms of Abortion. As occurring during the first two or 

 three months of gestation, symptoms may escape detection, and un- 

 less the aborted product is seen the fact of abortion may escape 

 notice. Some soiling of the tail with mucus, blood, and the waters 

 may be observed or the udder may show extra firmness, and in the 

 virgin heifer or dry cow the presence of a few drops of milk may be 

 suggestive, or the fetus and its membranes may be found in the 

 gutter or elsewhere as a mere clot of blood or as a membranous ball 

 in which the forming body of the fetus is found. In water the villi 

 of the outer membrane (chorion) float out, giving it a characteris- 

 tically shaggy appearance. 



In advanced pregnancy abortion is largely the counterpart of 

 parturition, so that a special description is superfluous. The im- 

 portant thing is to distinguish the early symptoms from those of 

 other diseases, so that the tendency may be arrested and the animal 

 carried to full time if possible. A cow is dull, sluggish, separate 

 from the herd, chewing the cud languidly, or there may be frequent 

 lying down and rising, uneasy movements of the hind feet or of the 

 tail, and slightly accelerated pulse and breathing, and dry muzzle. 

 The important thing is not to confound it with digestive or urinary 

 disorder, but in a pregnant cow to examine at once for any increase 

 of mucus in the vagina, or for blood or liquid there or on the root of 

 the tail; for any enlargement, firmness, or tenderness of the udder; 

 or in dry cows examine for milk ; and above all for any slight strain- 

 ing suggestive of labor pains. 



In many cases the membranes are discharged with the fetus ; in 

 others, in advanced pregnancy, they fail to come away, and remain 

 hanging from the vulva, putrefying and falling piecemeal, finally 

 resulting in a fetid discharge from the womb. According to the size 

 of the herd, contagious abortions will follow one another at intervals 



