COMMON AILMENTS OF COWS AND CALVES, AND TREATMENT. 185 



consider the cause of abortion an infectious inflammation of the serous 

 coating of the uterus. Others claim that the specific agent multiplies 

 between the uterine mucous membrane and the chorion; that it does not 

 exercise any noxious influence upon the former, but that it attacks the 

 envelopes after each new conception; it would thus determine repeated 

 abortions, and lead to sterility by communicating to the uterine secretion 

 an acid reaction which is fatal to the spermatozoids. 



In the cow, abortion generally takes place from the third to the seventh 

 month of gestation; the symptoms are: a redness of the vaginal mucous 

 membrane, on which we frequently observe eruptions in the form of pimples, 

 about the size of a millet seed, discharge from the vulva of a reddish liquid, 

 and a lessening of the lacteal secretion, which acquires the consistency of 

 the colostrum. Three days after the appearance of the discharge the abortion 

 takes place and gives rise only to insignificant general symptoms; the 

 foetus is usually dead. Sometimes the mother suffers for a long time. She 

 may become sterile, 



TREATMENT. 



The prophylaxis is very important. If once started it is impossible 

 to prevent abortion ; the medical agents are of no avail. 



We must, first of all, isolate the sick animals; it is advantageous to 

 put the healthy cows at pasture, if grass is in season. It is also necessary 

 to destroy the after-birth and the foetus, and thoroughly disinfect the stable 

 in which the cows have aborted; whitewash the walls and give plenty of 

 light in the stables. About the best agent to apply to the floor is air-slaked 

 lime. Apply it once daily after cleansing, covering the entire floor with a 

 thin coat. In addition to the above it is well to spray the entire stable 

 with a solution of creolin or chloro-naptholium twice or three times a week. 



The cows which have aborted should not be allowed to retain the 

 afterbirth; the same must be completely removed, and the uterus and 

 vagina thoroughly cleansed by irrigating same with a tepid 1 to 5,000 solution 

 of bichloride of mercury, using from 8 to 10 quarts of the solution once daily 

 until the disappearance of the vaginal discharge. This can best be done by 

 means of a large fountain syringe, conducting the rubber tube by hand into 

 the fundus of the organs. Until the vaginal discharge has entirely disap- 

 peared, no cow should be used for breeding purposes. 



We may also increase the resistance of all the animals by means of food 

 rich in nitrogen and by administration of iron tonics. 



Subcutaneous injections of a 2% solution of carbolic acid have been 

 experimented with, which have given variable results. Theoretically, car- 

 bolic acid seems to be inefficient; in the organism it is rapidly transformed 

 into sulpho-phenic acid, which is without effect. 



In case of sterility, a change of bull may have a favorable influence; 

 this has been explained by the constitutional condition of the progenitor; 



