Abortion or Slinhing, 317 



Later on, the animal begins to moan, the pangs of labor 

 come on with more or less violence, and the fruit of the 

 womb is expelled, sometimes living, but generally dead, and 

 often putrid and escaping by piecemeal. 



Treatment. — This is largely indicated by what we have 

 said above, so far as the prevention of the epidemic is con- 

 cerned. But there is one precaution which cannot be too 

 strongly urged. That is, as soon as the abortion has once 

 commenced, proceed to deliver the fetus at once, and bury it 

 deep in the ground, sprinkling it freely with carbolic acid or 

 chloride of lime. We need here not merely a disinfectant, 

 but one with a powerful smell of its own to overcome the 

 odor of the lochia. 



The cow should then receive attention. The afterbirth 

 having also been removed and buried, the vagina should be 

 syringed with a solution of chloride of lime, one oimce to the 

 quart of water ; the stall should be cleaned, washed with the 

 solution, and freshly littered ; and for a month at least, the cow 

 should not be allowed to associate with others. The whole 

 herd should at once be put upon doses of chlorate of potash^ 

 J oz. daily, which it is believed has been proven to exert a 

 beneficial influence. 



After recovery, the cow should not be allowed to take the 

 bull until the third or fourth time she is in heat, as if she 

 conceives in her first or second heat, it is quite certam that 

 she will abort again. If on her next pregnancy she again 

 aborts, there should be no hesitation in at once fattening and 

 selling her, as she is a standing menace to the welfare of the 

 whole dairy. 



Recent discussions in the Agricultural Societies of New 

 York, Ohio, and other large dairy districts, have led to the 

 recognition of two important and avoidable causes of abor- 

 tion. One of these is a deficiency of mineral matter in tha 



