ACCIDENTS OF PREGNANCY. 209 



Relaxation of the genital passages in the Bitch generally follows im- 

 mersion in a warm ba'th (112° to .114° Fahr.) for a few minutes ; it must 

 not be prolonged after the respiration becomes hurried or the animal 

 looks distressed j and the creature should be well dried and kept com 

 fortable. 



Epizootic, Epizootic, or Infections Abortiofi. 



What has been named epizootic or enzootic abortion, but which we have 

 designated " infectious," differs in its etiology and some other features 

 from abortion occurring in isolated or sporadic cases, but more partic- 

 ularly from its attacking all, or nearly all, the pregnant cattle (for it is 

 more particularly observed in Cows, seldom in Sheep, and more rarely 

 among Mares) on a farm or pasture, in a village, over a wide district, or 

 even throughout an entire country, for perhaps a succession of years — thus 

 constituting itself a veritable scourge to agriculture ; and more especially 

 as it only too frequently defies all precautions to prevent its occurrence, 

 and eludes the most careful search for its exciting cause. 



Epizootics of abortion have been recorded from the earliest times ; * 

 but it was only towards the end of the last .century, when Flandrin, Bar- 

 rier, Pele, and other French veterinary authorities undertook their inves- 

 tigation, that we discover the damage they inflicted. The observers in 

 this century are very numerous, but space forbids our alluding to them ; 

 it may be sufficient to state that Continental authorities are agreed as to 

 the destructiveness of this accident or disease, as well as to the obscurity 

 which attends its development. For instance, Heuze mentions that in 

 the Nievre (France) in 1869, the loss to certain agriculturists amounted 

 to 30, 40, and even 50,000 francs ; in South Germany, in 1851-52, accord- 

 ing to Rueff, it was very serious ; Zundel mentions that it is frequent in 

 North Germany ; and, according to Harms, it is very prevalent in Han- 

 over. 



Causes. — If we attempt to study the causes which have been alleged 

 as operating in the production of epizootic abortion, we are baffled among 

 conflicting statements and opinions. Many authorities hav^e adduced 

 those causes which have been already enumerated as producing sporadic 

 or accidental abortion ; while others hav^e taken into consideration those 

 influences which may give rise to the accident, as well as those which 

 may propagate the disorder. Among the latter is Zundel, who has made 

 a conscientious study of this important subject, and throws considerable 

 light upon it. 



With regard to general causes, it is remarked that the disease is most 

 frequent, enzootic, in wet years, as it was in South Germany in 1852, 

 when inundations were common (Rueff), and in Haute-Saone frequently 

 (Trelut), and in other countries, when it is probably due to anaemia, as 

 well as to forage damaged by moisture, ergotized, or otherwise altered. 

 This adynamic condition of animals, brought about by the weather and 

 food, is, in the opinion of Zundel, particularly favorable for the multi- 

 plication pf microphytes, micrococci, and bacteria in the genito-urinary 

 mucous membrane, and these have been spoken of as the principal local 



* Those occurring up to a.d. 800 are described in Animal Plagnei. We need only allude in this place 

 to the human "Abortus epidemicus" of b.c. 278 ; to that observed in Germany in 1777, in which Cows 

 and Pigs were involved ; and that at Chalons in 1784, in which nearly all the Cows and Mares aborted. 



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