166 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



Acute inflammations of important organs are notorious causes of 

 abortion, and in most contagious fevers (lung plague, rinderpest, 

 foot-and-mouth disease) it is a common result. Ajffections of the chest 

 which prevent due aeration of the blood induce contractions of the 

 womb, as shown experimentally by Brown-Sequard. Pregnant wo- 

 men suffocated in smoke aborted in many cases. (Retoul.) 



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

 tion, especially those that cause bloating (tympany of the first stom- 

 ach) 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 mag- 

 nesian limestone districts and in winter. The presence of tubercles 

 in the ovaries, the broad ligaments of the womb, and even on the 

 outer surface 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, lessons 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 overdistention 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 distention of 

 that organ, presses on or affects the womb and its contents danger- 

 ously. It further causes contractions of the womb by preventing 

 aeration of the blood. Hence all that tends to indigestion is to be 

 carefully guarded against. Privation of water, which hinders rumi- 

 nation and digestion ; ice-cold water, which rouses the womb to con- 

 traction and the calf to vigorous movement; 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 animal is unused 

 to them; a too dry food or a too stimulating food (wheat, bran, peas, 

 maize, and cotton seed) fed too lavishly may, any one of them, in- 

 duce 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 abortions 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 wide-spread abortion in cows. The 

 ergot is familiar as the dark purple or black, hard, spur-like growths 

 which protrude from the seeds of the grasses at the period of their 

 ripening. (PI. V.) It is especially common in damp localities and 



