316 Diseases of Cattle, 



the refuse from a slaughter house, glue factory or hatters' es- 

 tablishment, should be most carefully guarded against. 



The third and most important of all causes, as it is the 

 true secret of the epidemic prevalence of abortion in a dairy, 

 is the odor of the lochia or uterine discharges of the cow in 

 abortion. This odor is easily detected the moment one en- 

 ters the cow yard, and it is peculiarily offensive to other cows. 

 They cease feeding, sniff the air, become excited and bellow. 

 Some sympathetic influence is produced on their uterine or- 

 gans, and in a few days one or more of them abort, and thus 

 the disease is propagated through the herd until sometunes 

 every cow in calf has dropped her fetus. 



Symptoms. — An aborting cow is a constant source of dan- 

 ger to a dairy, and whenever such a one is found in the herd, 

 she should be taken off her milk, fattened and killed. But, 

 as in buying new cows, the purchaser may obtain one, it is of 

 great importance that he should closely watch cows in preg- 

 nancy, and, at the first signs of abortion, separate the cow 

 from the rest of the herd. These signs are as follows ; 



The animal is noticed to be off her feed, to " lose her cud," 

 is listless and dull, the milk dries up, she lies down longer 

 than usual, stands for a longer time on rising, and walks with 

 a slight staggering gait. Or in other cases, she is uneasy, 

 paws the ground, refuses food and rests her head on the 

 manger. 



If at this time the belly is carefully examined, it will be 

 found slightly altered in shape, less round and somewhat en- 

 larged. And if the vagina should be inspected, there will 

 be observed a slight discharge of whitish, glairy fluid ; or, 

 if further advanced, the fluid mil be of a yellow or reddish 



hue. 



These are the signs which should admonish the owner to 

 isolate the cow at a long distance from her companions. 



