ABORTION 115 



The prognosis may therefore be favorable. The cause of an 

 abortion is of course of great importance in making a prognosis. 

 Although abortion in itself usually takes a happy termination, 

 it may become dangerous when followed by the above named 

 diseases. 



Therapeutics. — When a cow is once disposed to abort, 

 assistance must confine itself to those measures laid down 

 under normal parturition. The foetal envelopes should not be 

 torn too quickly, anyway not until the cervix uteri is sufficiently 

 dilated. When the whole foetal water is already discharged, 

 frequently the case when the veterinarian is called too late, 

 and the cervix uteri hardly sufficiently dilated to pass the hand, 

 an infusion of warm water, slimy decoction, or oil is indicated. 

 They replace the escaped foetal liquids, and may be doubly 

 useful, by lubricating the passages and by preventing the uterus 

 from contracting too firmly upon the foetus and thus rendering 

 difficult attempts at reposition. In most cases our advice is 

 only then requested, after parturition has begun. Should it be 

 the case that from former experience with abortion in a herd 

 the attendant imagines to notice premonitory phenomena of 

 abortion, treatment may be instituted. Harms recommends 

 camphor and opium. 



[The administration of viburnum pruuifolium in these 

 cases, in doses of 30 cc. every hour until 120 cc. have been 

 given, yielded admirable results in some animals about to 

 abort, while in others it had no effect whatever, no doubt 

 depending on the cause of abortion. — W.] ' 



The circulation must be equalized by thoroughly rubbing 

 the belly and legs ; the hindquarters should be raised. Preg- 

 nant cows, fatigued by long drives or railroad travel, showing 

 the first indications of abortion, receive the above treatment. 



II. — INFECTIOUS ABORTION. 



On page 108 it was shown that stationary abortion need not 

 necessarily be infectious. Strebel reports that during the wet 

 years, 1878 and 1879-80, 20 to 60 per cent, of all pregnant cows 

 aborted in the canton of Freiburg. The stables, which were 



