DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS 75 



tioii usually takes place during- the lirst ball" of the period of 

 pregnancy. Cows that become pregnant without recovering 

 from the inflannnation of the lining membrane of the genital 

 tract, may abort at a very early period. McFadyean and vStock- 

 man from the artificially inoculated cases of infectious abortion 

 in cows, showed that the period of incubation averaged 12G days. 



The symptoms of accidental abortion are extremely variable. 

 Animals that abort during the early periods of pregnancy may 

 show so little disturbance, that the animal can be treated as if 

 nothing had happened. During the latter half of pregnancy, 

 and especially w^hen the accident is caused by an injury, the 

 s^TQptoms are more serious. Loss of appetite, dulness, restless- 

 ness, abdominal pain and hemorrhage are the symptoms com- 

 monly noted. If the foetus is dead, it may be necessary to 

 assist tbe animal in expelling it. In the latter case, death of the 

 mother may occur. 



A slight falling of the flanks, swelling of the lips of the 

 vulva and a retention of the fetal membranes, or discharge from 

 the vulva may be the only symptoms noted at the time abortion 

 occurs. 



The symptoms of infectious ahortion vary in the different 

 periods of preg-nancy. At an early period, the foetus may be 

 passed with so little evidence of labor that the animal pays 

 little attention to it. The recurrence of heat may be the first 

 intimation of the abortion. All cases of abortion are followed by 

 more or less discharge from the vulva. This is especially true 

 if the fetal membranes are retained. In such cases, the dis- 

 charge has a very disagTeeable odor. In most cases the foetus 

 is dead. When born alive, it is weak and puny, and usually 

 dies or is destroyed within a few days. When the attendant 

 fails to give the animal the necessary attention, or is careless 

 in his manipulation of the parts, inflammation of the womb, 

 caused by the decomposition of the retained membranes, or the 

 introduction of irritating germs on the ropes, instruments and 



