554 GENITAL APPARATUS. 



these bacteria resemble cocci, but isolated specimens are seen to be 

 true bacteria containing one, two, or occasionally three roundish, 

 elongated deeply-stained granules. They do not stain with Gram, 

 and are non-motile. 



These bacteria exhibit remarkable vitality. Bang relates cases 

 which seem to prove that they may exist within the uterus for at 

 least fourteen months, and in the uterine exudate outside the body 

 for at least seven months, even at comparatively low temperatures. 



On post-mortem examination one finds between the mucous mem- 

 brane of the uterus and the foetal envelopes an abundant odourless 

 exudate, dirty-yellow in colour, somewhat thin, pultaceous, slimy, or 

 lumpy in character. Under the chorion is found a thin, clear, gela- 

 tinous substance contained within the fine connective tissue lying 

 betw^een the chorion and allantois. The umbilical cord is often a^de- 

 matous. All these exudates contain the specific minute bacterium. 



The above exudate forms the peculiar dirty, reddish-yellow, slimy, 

 flocculent, pus-like odourless fluid which escapes from the vagina 

 during or immediately after the act of abortion. 



The results of infection of the uterus with Bang's bacterium 

 may be delayed for a considerable time. In two cases where he 

 injected pure cultures into the vaginae of pregnant cows no apparent 

 local results had been produced at the end of thirty-three and thirty- 

 five days respectively w^hen the cows were slaughtered; but in the 

 case of two other pregnant cows, inoculated three months after con- 

 ception, signs of abortion became apj)arent, and one cow in fact 

 aborted in about ten weeks ; post-mortem examination revealed the 

 characteristic local changes, and microscopical and cultural prepara- 

 tions clearly established the presence of the specific organism. 



Although the sexual organs form the usual channel of infection, 

 it seems possible that the organism may in some cases enter the 

 body through the respiratory or digestive tract. 



The treatment in this condition is chiefly of a prophylactic 

 character. Bulls which have served cows belonging to herds known 

 to be infected should not be allowed to cover healthy cows. They 

 should undergo careful local disinfection, and for a time be with- 

 drawn from the stud. 



Cows which show signs of impending abortion should at once be 

 removed to a separate shed. The foetus and its envelopes should 

 be buried or burnt, and the person who attends the diseased cow 

 should be prohibited from entering the common cow-shed. 



Where space does not admit of this the affected cows should be 

 removed as far as possible from those still healthy and placed in a 

 separate row. When they abort the after-birth should be removed 



