DISEASES OP THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 187 



Chronic diseases of the abdominal organs are fertile sources of abor- 

 tion, especially those that cause bloating (tympany of the first stomach) 

 or diarrhea, or the diseases of the ovaries, kidneys, or bladder. The 

 presence of gravel or stone in the kidneys, bladder, or urinary canals, 

 is an especial predisposing or even an exciting cause, in magnesian 

 limestone districts and in winter. The presence of tubercles in the 

 ovaries, the broad ligaments of the womb, and even on the outer sur- 

 face of the womb itself, must be added as efficient causes. 



Fatty degeneration of the heart, a common disease in old cows of 

 improved beef breeds, lessens the circulation in the placenta (and fetus) 

 and, arresting nutrition, may cause abortion. 



Indigestions of all kinds are especially dangerous, as they are usually 

 associated with overdistension of the first stomach (paunch) with gas. 

 As this stomach lies directly beneath and to the left side of the womb, 

 any disorder, and above all an excessive distension of that organ, presses 

 on or affects the womb audits contents dangerously. It further causes 

 contractions of the womb by preventing aeration of the blood. Eeuce 

 all that tends to indigestion is to be carefully guarded against. Priva- 

 tion of water, which hinders rumination and digestion; ice-cold water, 

 which rouses the womb to contraction and the calf to vigorous move- 

 ment; green, succulent grass, to which the cow has been unaccustomed; 

 clover which has just been wet with a slight shower; all green food, roots, 

 potatoes, apples, pumpkins that are frozen or have been, or that are 

 simply covered with hoar frost; food that has been grown in wet seasons 

 or that has been badly harvested; growing corn, oats, etc., if the ani- 

 mal is unused to them; a too dry food or a too stimulating food (wheat 

 bran, pease, maize, and cotton-seed) fed too lavishly may, any one of 

 them, induce abortion. The dry and stimulating foods last named bring 

 on constipation with straining, and also elevated temperature of the 

 body, which, in itself, endangers the life of the fetus. 



Putrid, stagnant water is hurtful both to digestion and the fetus, 

 and alM>rtions in cows have been repeatedly traced to this source and 

 have ceased when pure water was supplied. Ergoted grasses have long 

 been known as a cause of widespread abortions in rows. The ergot is 

 familiar as the dark purple or black, hard, spur like growths which pro- 

 trude from the, seeds of the grasses at the period of tlieirripening. (Plate 

 V.) It is especially common in damp, cloudy seasons and localities, on 

 meadows shaded by trees and protected against the free sweep of the 

 winds. The same is to a large extent true of smut. Hence, wet years 

 have been often remarkable for the great prevalence of abortions. 

 Abortions have greatly increased in New Zealand among cows since 

 the introduction of rye grass, which is specially subject to ergot. 

 As abortion is more prevalent in old dairying districts the ergot may 

 not be the sole cause in this instance. 



The smut of maize, wheat, bailey, and oats is fostered by similar 

 conditions and is often equally injurious. It should be added that the 



