DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. l7l 



suits from their administration, in other instances total failures have 

 been recorded. It appears that the experiments in this line have not 

 progressed sufficiently to justify definite conclusions. 



The spread of the disease can be controlled to a great degree by 

 the practice of sanitary measures directed toward the disinfection of 

 premises and the isolation of animals at time of calving and abort- 

 ing. For methods of disinfection of premises see page 363. 



Make frequent observations of the animals of affected herds for 

 symptoms of aborting, such as swelling of vulva or udder enlarge- 

 ment, and upon the discovery of an animal showing these symptoms 

 place her immediately in a stall which is somewhat remote from 

 healthy stock as a means of confining the products of abortion as 

 much as possible should the act occur. If an animal aborts unex- 

 pectedly she should be removed to separate quarters and given 

 proper attention as promptly as possible. The fetus, afterbirth, 

 provided it has been expelled, and all litter that has been contami- 

 nated with them and uterine discharges should be gathered up and 

 destroyed either by burning or burying. Clean and thoroughly dis- 

 infect the floor, gutters, and manger in the vicinity of the aborting 

 animal. 



Daily irrigations of the uterus with nonirritating antiseptic solu- 

 tions, such as 0.5 per cent solution of cresol or compound solution 

 of cresol, at body temperature have a tendency to prevent the multi- 

 plication of microorganisms in the uterus and in this way promote 

 recovery. Douching of the uterus should be continued until the 

 discharge ceases. In addition, the external genitals, root of the tail, 

 escutcheon, etc., should be Sf)onged daily with the antiseptic solution. 



Aim to place all pregnant animals in disinfected individual pens 

 or stalls a few days before they are expected to calve, and confine 

 them to these quarters for three or four weeks following the delivery 

 of the calf, or as long thereafter as uterine discharges are observed. 

 Avoid carrying infection from the maternity stalls to other portions 

 of stable, on shoes or otherwise. This may be prevented to some 

 degree by the use of disinfectant solutions on shoes after the stalls 

 have been entered or by wearing rubbers while in the maternity 

 stalls, removing them after the isolated animals have been attended 

 to. The isolation of cows at time of calving and the aborting ani- 

 mal is based upon the knowledge that the fetus, afterbirth, and uter- 

 ine discharges of an affected animal at these times very frequently 

 contain myriads of the abortion bacteria, and that unless these sub- 

 stances are confined and promptly destroyed an abundant opportu- 

 nity is provided for the contamination of the food substances of the 

 healthy animals and their contraction of the disease. 



Refrain from breeding fresh cows for a period of six weeks to 

 two months following calving. The aborting animal should be iso- 

 lated for a period of six weeks to two months and under no consider- 

 ation be permitted to mingle with the rest of the herd as long as 

 uterine discharges are observed. 



