22S DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



When a cow slips a calf, and anything offensive is left 

 in the field, all pregnant cows smelling it are liable to 

 the same. Everything that is of an offensive smell, 

 especially putrid flesh or blood, should always be care- 

 fully removed. In Gloucestershire, they suffer the cows 

 to eat the afterbirth, and it is supposed to be useful." — 

 White's Cattle Medicine. 



The cow is more subject to abortion than any other 

 domestic animal. Besides the causes enumerated above, 

 there are various others, and sometimes the cause is 

 hard to trace. A very severe blow on any part of the 

 body, or even a light blow on the nose, is liable to pro- 

 duce it. Various diseases, that are incident to cattle, may 

 cause it. Bad water is often a cause. A farm in Eng- 

 land had been given up by three farmers, successively, 

 on account of losses by abortion. The cattle drank of a 

 stagnant pond, impregnated with dung and urine. Wells 

 were then dug, the pond fenced up, and abortion disap- 

 peared. Violent exertion, as well as the other extreme, 

 inaction, is a cause. The extremes of starvation, and 

 plethora from luxuriant pasture or high feeding, are 

 causes ; also the extremes of exposure, and a close, hot 

 stable. Anything that seriously affects the comfort 

 or health of the animal may produce it. Sometimes it 

 seems to be infectious, as when one cow in a herd mis- 

 carries, others are soon affected, and it often runs nearly 

 through the whole herd. In this case, it is supposed to 

 be caused by the .odor produced. [See page 44.] 



Cows are most liable to slink their calves about the 

 middle period of gestation. If, about that time, a cow is 

 uneasy, feverish, off her food, or wandering about for 

 something for which she seems to have a longing, or 

 most greedily and ravenously devouring some particular 

 kind of food, she should be physicked immediately. Give 

 a pound of Epsom salts, and half an ounce of powdered 

 caraway seeds, or a table spoonful of ginger. Give warm 

 drink till after the operation of the physic ; then give 

 two to four quarts of raspberry tea, or other sedative 

 and anodyne medicines, and feed moderately. 



Preventives. Attend to numerous directions given 

 in this work for the preservation of health. Avoid all 



