558 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK vi. 



Symptoms. As a rule, abortion takes place without any premonitory 

 signs. In other instances the symptoms are those of approaching 

 parturition, filling of the udder, relaxation of the external generative 

 organs, and a slight ropy discharge from the genital outlet. 



Treatment. This must be considered under two heads preventive 

 and remedial. 



Preventive treatment of this contagious form of abortion should 

 consist in taking care that a pregnant heifer or cow has no contact 

 either directly or indirectly with an animal that has already aborted ; 

 sponging, once each day at least, the vulva and under part of tail of 

 cows that are two months and upwards in calf when a case has already 

 occurred in a herd or on premises near ; never allowing a heifer or cow 

 to be served by a bull that has served a cow that has aborted, unless 

 such animals have had disinfectants thoroughly and judiciously applied 

 to the genital organs ; taking great care to isolate and disinfect an 

 animal that has aborted from any cause, and continue this until all 

 discharges from the womb have ceased ; also being very particular to 

 destroy by burning or otherwise the foetal membranes and discharge- 

 stained litter which have been in contact with such an animal. 



When abortion has appeared in a herd the internal administration of 

 an antiseptic such as carbolic acid in small daily doses to all animals 

 that have been pregnant for four months and upwards, in conjunction 

 with the sponging, has beneficial results. Judicious feeding and the 

 observance of the isolation and disinfection recommended above are 

 important. Avoid the out-of-date and absurd method of rubbing 

 mustard on the back, still practised to some extent It is based on a 

 misconception and is worse than useless. 



EHEUMATISM. Eheumatism is a constitutional disorder of a painful 

 character affecting the joints and sinews of the limbs and sometimes 

 also the muscles of the various parts of the body. In severe forms of 

 the disease it attacks the heart and often induces serious and even 

 fatal changes in its structure. The so-called "chine fellon" and 

 " joint fellon " are forms of rheumatism. 



The actual cause of rheumatism is not well understood. The 

 circumstances under which it arises are: 1. An inherited predis- 

 position. 2. Exposure to cold and wet while the system is in a 

 heated condition ; in this connection easterly and north-easterly winds 

 are very productive of it. 3. An impairment of the composition of the 

 blood consequent on long continued indigestion. It occasionally follows 

 injury to joints, ligaments, or tendons. 



Symptoms. The disease may assume an acute or a chronic form. 

 In the former it comes on suddenly, with fever, loss of appetite, 

 " staring " coat and dry muzzle. The bowels are constipated and the 

 urine high-coloured. Swellings of the joints and sinews appear, first 

 in one limb, then in another, and the disease shifts from place to place 

 and varies in severity from time to time, being one day better, another 

 worse. The inflamed parts are hard or fluctuating, and painful to the 



