1076 Veterinary Obstetrics 



Veterinarians in various portions of the state, having had their 

 attention drawn to the existence of the malady-, find, upon search, 

 that the disease is common in many localities in New York. 



We have observed the malady in pedigreed breeding herds of 

 Holsteins, Jerseys and Guernseys. Breeding stock is constantly 

 being sold from these herds to all portions of the state and country. 

 We have satisfactorily' determined that affected animals have gone 

 from New York to several other states, and that diseased cattle 

 have been brought into New York from other states. 



Howlong the disease has existed in New York or in the United 

 States, can not be determined. One veterinarian in Pennsyl- 

 vania relates orally that he observed the lesions in aborting cows 

 in his state some five or six years ago, but apparently made no 

 public announcement of the fact. Breeders state also that they 

 have observed the granular lesions in their herds for some time 

 past. 



If we are to estimate the duration of the di.sease in America by 

 its probable relation to abortion, it has existed for a long time. 

 A serious malady, known as contagious abortion, has been wide- 

 spread and has caused appalling losses to dairymen in New York 

 and other states for more than a quarter of a century. How 

 much of the abortion has been due to this malad}^ we do not 

 know, and there is now no method for determining. At present 

 we have been unable to find a dairy in which abortion exists, or 

 has recently existed, where the granular venereal disease is not 

 present in a severe form. 



Such observations as we have been able to make, in the few 

 months elapsing since the recognition of the malady in this 

 state, lead us to conclude that the disease has probably exi.sted 

 in the United States for a quarter of a century, that it is wide- 

 ly disseminated wherever dairying is largely conducted, and that 

 it is responsible for a very large part of the immense losses from 

 abortion and sterility in cows. 



For these reasons, we consider it essential to add to the de- 

 scription already given of this disease, some interesting data ac- 

 quired through our investigations. Admittedly our observa- 

 tions are incomplete, and any conclusions we may now draw are 

 subject to revision. The investigations thus far made should 

 suffice, however, to place veterinary practitioners on their guard. 



