128 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, 



man in this subject ; but it is one upon which we all desire to 

 know simply the cause and the remedy, and there is not one 

 of us who assumes to be able to give the cause or the remedy ; 

 therefore, it would simply become a discussion of illustra- 

 tions. I rise to suggest that we go on with the business of 

 the meeting and forego our interest in this subject, about 

 which we shall not be any wiser, perhaps, after hours of dis- 

 cussion, and shall have lost valuable time which might have 

 been devoted to those subjects which come in their regular 

 order. 



The Chairman. Many of us know of the existence of 

 abortion, and that is the extent of our knowledge. We will 

 hear Mr. Bowditch in conclusion of the subject. 



Mr. Bowditch. A good many years ago I had a great deal 

 of experience with this trouble, and I found the only thing 

 to be done was to stop its going through my herd. At 

 that time it affected a very large proportion of my cows ; and 

 from accident or some other cause I have had two or three 

 cases a year out of fifty or sixty breeding cows. My plan 

 has been to watch my cattle carefully every day, and I never 

 in any instance allow a cow that has aborted to be brought 

 into the presence of other pregnant cows. It can be guarded 

 against by careful watching. There are certain symptoms 

 which always come and you can tell them. You will notice 

 them as quickly in a heifer that has never had a calf as in a 

 cow that is giving milk. The symptoms are a swelling of 

 the cord on each side of the tail and a sudden springing of 

 the bag. You will see a heifer suddenly develop a bag, and 

 if that comes accompanied with swelling, especially a swell- 

 ing of the cord on each side of the tail, she ought to be at 

 once isolated. Mr. Gold has made the statement that a cow 

 that had aborted was brought back into his barn, and then 

 the rest of the herd aborted. That may happen if the cow 

 is not isolated long enough. You can isolate if you have a 

 barn far enough away from your main barn, but the isolation 

 must be perfect. The man who takes care of that cow 

 should never be allowed to come near a pregnant animal, 

 under any circumstances. I have a farm barn a quarter of a 

 mile away, and the man who takes care of a cow suffering 

 from abortion is not allowed inside my cow barn. I tried an 



