ACCIDENTS OF P/iK'/XAXCV. 217 



in South Germany, in 18ol-52, according to RuetT, it was very serious ; 

 Zundel mentions that it is frequent in North Germany ; and, according 

 to Harms, it is very prevalent in Hanover. 



Indeed, there is scarcely a country in which there are competent 

 observers, that has not been reported as suiifering from visitations of 

 infectious or epizootic abortion. Some of these outbreaks have been 

 most destructive. In the United States of America, for example, it has 

 proved a veritable scourge in some of the horse-producing regions, where 

 it seems to have made its appearance in recent years. It is only since 

 186G that it has attracted attention in the Mississippi Valley, and 

 gradually increasing in severity, in 1889 and 1890 it caused great havoc 

 — the losses through Mares aborting amounting to as many as 75 per 

 cent, in some regions ; in others, one-half of the Mares aborted. The 

 Horse-breeding areas in Illinois and adjoining States suffered most. 

 In Kentucky in 1892, it was reported that 75 per cent, of the brood 

 Mares — trotting and thoroughbred — were either barren or had lost their 

 Foals that spring. Bourbon County sustained a loss equal to £10,000 

 by Mares slipping their Foals. Fayette County suffered an even greater 

 loss ; while Madison and other counties experienced the same misfor- 

 tune. In Montana it inflicted much damage in the Horse ranches in 

 1892, when it first appeared there. In 1891 the disease was observed 

 in South America — in the State of Buenos Ayres, Argentine Eepublic 

 — where the outbreak was described as the most extensive of any that 

 had hitherto been observed in any part of the world, and the epizooty 

 as entirely a novelty in that region. The losses were very great. In 

 Australia an outbreak of epizootic abortion in Cows was reported from 

 Warrnanibool, Victoria, in 1892. In 1889, Labat reports an outbreak 

 among Ewes in France.' 



C.A.USES. — If we attempt to study the causes which have been alleged 

 as operating in the production of epi/.outic abortion, we are ballled 

 by conflicting statements and opinions. Many authorities have adduced 

 those causes which have been already enumerated as producing sporadic 

 or accidental abortion ; while others have taken into consideration other 

 influences which may give rise to the accident, as well as those which 

 may propagate the disorder. Among the latter is Zundel, who has made 

 a conscientious study of this important subject, and throws consider- 

 able light upon it. 



With regard to general causes, it is remarked that the disease is most 

 frequent — enzootic — in wet years, as it was in South Germany in 1852, 

 when inundations were common (Rueff),and in Haute-Saone frequently 

 (Trelut), and in other countries ; then it is probably due to anaemia, as 

 well as to forage damaged by moisture, ergotized, or otherwise altered. 

 This adynamic condition of animals, brought about by the weather and 

 food, is, in the opinion of Zundel, particularly favourable for the multi- 

 phcation ot microphytes, micrococci, and bacteria in the genito-urinary 

 mucous membrane, and these have been spoken of as the principal local 

 cause of this kind of abortion. He also adds that it is possible that, 

 among the fungus or parasitic elements which infest forage in wet 

 seasons, there may be some which act, hke the ergot of rye, directly on 

 the uterus. But in addition to the influence of seasons, there has also 



* For particulars of these outbreaks in North and South America, _Australia, and 

 France, see the Veteriiianj Journal, voU. xxviii., p. 402 ; xxxiv., pp. 275, 337 ; xxxv., 

 p. 332 ; xxxvi., p. 16. 



