A CCI DENTS OF PREGNA NCY. 213 



The shed from which the cow has been moved, and which contains 

 other pregnant cattle, ought to be immediately cleared of all manure and 

 other matters of an objectionable kind, the drains and the floor — partic- 

 ularly that of the stall which had been occupied by the Cow — being thor- 

 oughly swilled with water, and sprinkled with some good disinfectant ; a 

 good layer of straw may then be laid down, and the cattle replaced. 



The shed should be kept clean and well ventilated for a number of days, 

 and the drains well flushed and disinfected. 



The animal which has aborted must also be at once attended to. If the 

 membranes have not been discharged — which is most frequently the case 

 — they should be removed as early as possible, and not allowed to pu- 

 trefy ; their removal should be affected by the hand, and a weak solu- 

 tion of carbolic acid, permanganate of potass, or salicylic acid ought to 

 be injected into the vagina and uterus. The membranes themselves 

 should be destroyed or buried, and the Cow should not be allowed to go 

 near others which are pregnant so long as there is any discharge /^r viil- 

 vam : for safety, the period of isolation should extend to from eight to 

 fifteen days. The animal may require good nursing in the mean time ; 

 and it should not be put to the male until every trace of irritation in the 

 generative organs has disappeared. 



When Cows show any symptoms of impending abortion, they ought to 

 be promptly removed from the vicinity of others which are in calf. 



When this accident continues in a stable or shed, Saint-Cyr thinks it 

 necessary to recommend disposal of all the Cows therein, and before in- 

 troducing others into it, to thoroughly cleanse and disinfect it by removing 

 all excreta ; renewing the soil or flooring, washing and scraping the man- 

 gers, racks, and walls and wood-work, making more air-apertures if neces- 

 sary, and leaving it empty, with the doors and windows open, for a month 

 or six weeks. 



Should epizootic abortion be traced to the food — ergotized or other- 

 wise damaged fodder, of course the use of this must, if possible, be pro- 

 hibited, and a change resorted to. If the pasture grasses are ergotized, 

 then the pregnant animals must be removed from them, and placed in 

 more favorable conditions with regard to food. Ergotized or mouldy dry 

 forage may be rendered safe for consumption by scalding it with boiling 

 water or steam, or pickling it in salt. 



Whenever or wherever the accident occurs — whether at pasture, straw- 

 yard, or in shed — it must not be forgotten that the greatest po^ible care 

 should be taken to isolate the animal, if it is with other pregnant creatures 

 of the same species, and to bury every thing — foetus, membranes, etc., as 

 well as to destroy all traces of discharges from the patient. 



