76 NON-SPECIFIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



hands, may occur. Death commonly follows this complication. 



It is very important that the infectious form be diagnosed 

 early in the outbreak. For all practical purposes we are justi- 

 fied in diagnosing infectious abortion, if several animals in the 

 herd abort, especially if it follows tlie introduction of new ani- 

 mals. ]\[ethods of serum diagnosis, the agglutination and com- 

 plement-fixation tests, are now used in the diagnosis of this 

 disease. 



The preventive treatmeni of the accidental form consists in 

 avoiding conditions that may result in this accident. Pregnant 

 animals should not be exposed to injuries from other animals 

 or from the surroundings. Animals which show a predisposition 

 to abort should not be bred. We should see that all animals re- 

 ceive the necessary exercise and a proper ration. 



If the animal indicates by her actions that abortion may take 

 place, we should give her comfortable, quiet quarters. It is 

 very necessary to keep her quiet, and if restless, morphine may 

 be given. A very light diet should be fed and constipation pre- 

 vented by administering a laxative. The necessary attention 

 should be given in case abortion occurs. 



The enforcement of preventive or quarantine measures is 

 very important in the control of infectious abortion. This is 

 especially true of breeding herds and dairy cows. Breeders 

 do not recognize the importance of keeping their herds clean 

 or free from disease. It is a well-known fact among stockmen 

 tluit al)()rtion and other infectious diseases have been frequently 

 introduced into the herd through the purchase of one or more 

 breeding animals. Because of the prevalence of infectious abor- 

 tion among cows, it is advisable to subject newly purchased 

 breeding animals, or a cow that has been bred outside of the 

 herd, to a short (piarantine period before allowing them to mix 

 with the herd. 'Hie breeding of cows from neighboring herds to 

 the herd bull is not a safe practice. In communities where there 

 are outbreaks of this disease, animals that abort, or show indi- 



