GENERAL CARE OF CATTLE. 357 



In abortion, the foetus is often putrid before it 

 is discharged; and the placenta, * * * as it 

 drops away in fragments, emits a peculiar and 

 most noisome smell. This smell seems to be 

 singularly annoying to the other cows, they 

 sniff at it and then run bellowing about. Some 

 sympathetic influence is exercised on their 

 uterine organs, and in a few days a greater or 

 less number of those that had pastured together 

 likewise abort." 



The so-called epizootic type of abortion has 

 evaded many later investigators than Youatt, 

 who, if they have agreed in rejecting his theory 

 of the reaction of the imagination on the uterine 

 system, have agreed in little else. Certain it is 

 that this disease is mysterious in its coming 

 and going, its transmission, and many other 

 circumstances of its occurrence, and where it 

 appears it paralyzes production sometimes for 

 one, more often for several years. Those who 

 have suffered from this scourge seem to think 

 it cheaper to wipe out the herd stopping the 

 conflagration by burning up its fuel in advance 

 and after an interval 'to begin afresh, than 

 to try to fight the unequal battle. 



I have known of a case where this disease 

 came suddenly, spread rapidly, and went swiftly; 

 of another where it developed gradually, spread 

 slowly but widely, and was only gotten rid of 

 by the destruction of the herd after some years. 



