ENZOOTIC ABORTION IN COWS. 



117 



eighth months as those in which abortion most frequently 

 occurs. 



With regard to the time of the year in which this accident 

 is most likely to occur we find the following : — 



Such statistics have but little etiological value ; they show, 

 however, that the increase in the number of abortions bears 

 a direct relation to the period at which most cattle men de- 

 sire to have their cows " come in," i. e., to be ready for 

 the spring grasses. They show further, that some general 

 cause must be at work at such times, other than the manner 

 of feeding, etc. ; for if ergot, as has been assumed, was a 

 cause, the cows would be as liable to gain access to it in 

 November and December as in January, February and 

 March, and sufficient time would have even then elapsed to 

 allow its deleterious action to develop, if at all. 



The N. Y. Commissioners also gave attention to the influ- 

 ence of the bull, if any, with reference to the age at which 

 it was used for service. 



It will be seen that these figures indicate a slight advan- 

 tage in favor of the older bulls. 



A Prussian veterinarian reports a singular case with refer- 

 ence to two bulls, one three and a half and the other two 



