DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE 377 



3. Cows Losing Their Calves — Non-Contagious Abortion. 



Causes. — This generally results from slipping on ice, 

 being chased by a dog or from the hook of another animal. 



Symptoms. — Labor pains come on. She gets up and 

 down and the water bag appears and breaks. If the calf is 

 coming straight, it soon appears and comes away all right. 



Treatment. — If straining continues and the calf does not 

 come, oil the hand, pass it up into the womb and straighten 

 the calf. After the calf is taken away, cover her up warm, 

 and if she does not seem very well give her the following: 



Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 dessertspoonfuls. 



Epsom Salts 1 pound. 



Mix in a quart of lukewarm water and give as a drench. 

 If the cleaning does not come away follow the same treat- 

 ment as given in Sect. 10 of this chapter. After this, feed 

 soft food, keep her warm and milk her twice a day. 



4. Contagious Abortion. 



This is becoming quite a common disease in some local 

 ities and frequently causes considerable loss to cattlemen. 



Causes. — It is due to a germ in the vagina or womb and 

 is transmitted from one cow to another through the discharge 

 or afterbirth of a cow that has already aborted, or through 

 the service of a bull that has before served a cow suffering 

 from the disease. 



Treatment. — All cows suspected should be isolated from 

 those pregnant. Great care also must be exercised to prevent 

 the spread of the disease should a case of abortion occur. 

 Burn or bury deeply the foetus, afterbirth and in fact every- 

 thing that comes away. Thoroughly disinfect the stable by 

 scattering lime freely about the floors and washing the wood- 

 work with a solution of corrosive sublimate in the following 

 proportions: 



Corrosive Sublimate 1 part. 



Water 1000 parts. 



Disinfect in ten days in exactly the same manner and then 

 whitewash the stable. This makes it thoroughly clean and 

 prevents the possibility of live germs lurking about 



