DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 303 



ABORTION. 



Abortion is the premature birth of the young 

 animal. It is said to occur from the nature of the 

 food the animal has been fed on, also the drinking- 

 water. In my practice I have never seen any cases 

 from these causes. I have traced all my cases to 

 injuries, fright, and disease of the foetus itself. It 

 is sometimes epizootic. In this case I think it is 

 a disease affecting the foetus in an epizootic form, 

 as investigations have failed to detect anything 

 either in the food or water. There is no substance 

 that is known by experiment that will cause it, un- 

 less given in poisonous doses. When an animal 

 aborts, it should be removed from the others, also 

 the straw and afterbirth, as the smell or sight has 

 a bad effect, and no doubt has a tendency to cause 

 others to abort. Be careful not to take a mare that 

 is in foal near where an animal has been killed or 

 near a slaughter house. I have known a number 

 of cases from this cause. A mare should never be 

 forced up to a steam-engine or the cars if afraid of 

 them. Abortion may occur at any period before 

 the natural time of birth, but it usually happens 

 in the first half of the period of gestation, particu- 

 larly in the mare. Usually when it occurs in the 

 early stage, it seldom interferes with the health of 

 the animal, indeed it may take place and the owner 

 be ignorant of the fact. 



Treatment : If the animal is seen in time and the 

 labor pains not severe, it may be checked by giving 

 doses of the following: Powdered opium, two 



