688 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



I have purposely given the genital infections of cattle the 

 first place in this treatise, because they lead in importance in 

 the economic interests of the owner and the state, and in 

 regard to human health. At the same time they serve ad- 

 mirably as a basis for comparative study of the genital infec- 

 tions of other species. 



There is pressing need for the building up of a compre- 

 hensive plan where the dairyman, cattle breeder, and veter- 

 inarian may meet upon common ground and intelligently 

 apply effective measures for the control of these appalling 

 losses. The problem is many-sided and intricate. Most 

 lamentable of all, but little is actually known regarding it. 

 Enough is known however to warrant the unqualified de- 

 claration that means are at hand, and are being applied in 

 many cases, which are minimizing the losses in a highly 

 gratifying degree and giving promise of great advancement 

 with conscientious study and intelligent cooperation. 



In the scheme which has been followed in the preceding 

 pages and which is summarized below, the B. abortus of 

 Bang is not recognized as the specific cause of abortion or 

 other disease, but it is not denied that it may cause abortion. 

 At the same time it is held that other bacteria within the 

 genital organs may and do cause lesions not distinguishable 

 at present from those alleged to be caused by the Bang or- 

 ganism. The plan for advancing the fertility of cattle has, 

 therefore, for its aim the destruction or control of all patho- 

 genic bacteria invading any of the genital organs of either 

 sex, at any age. Such a plan does not weaken but strength- 

 ens the efficiency of the control of the B. abortus infection, 

 and more certainly eliminates or minimizes the latter than 

 if measures were applied to it alone. 



A. The Assembling of Herds. The Addition of Breeding 



Animals to Established Herds 



The task of selecting animals to constitute the foundation 



of a herd and the addition of animals to an established herd 



for the purpose of improving it, is a complex and difficult 



problem. Most purebred cattle are purchased upon their 



