358 CATTLE-BREEDING. 



It has been attributed to ergot. While ergot, 

 no doubt, does at times cause abortion, this 

 disease has shown itself where ergot was cer- 

 tainly not the cause. It has been thought that 

 the bu]l was the active agent, but- a single bull 

 has been used steadily in two herds, one affected 

 and the other healthy. We can only say it is 

 a mystery. 



I wish to accentuate before passing from this 

 subject the high value I set upon the prompt 

 and complete removal of the placenta in all 

 cases of abortion. I have rarely known a cow 

 to suffer seriously in health where this has been 

 done efficiently. In almost every instance it 

 alone seems to give rise to later stages of irri- 

 tation and inflammation, and with it once out of 

 the way the cow will quickly regain her usual 

 health. If the afterbirth is not removed, like 

 any other foreign animal substance it will de- 

 cay and induce blood-poisoning, which if not 

 fatal is sure to induce a tedious and trouble- 

 some illness, slowly recovered from and often 

 bringing on secondary complaints destructive 

 to the animal's usefulness. 



BULLS. 



When the bull calves are weaned they require 

 the same treatment which has already been 

 recommended for the heifers and should be 

 kept by themselves, quite apart from the 



