750 ADDENDUM. 



some characters common to the pneumo-enteritis of the Pig (Swine 

 plague) and Sheep (the pneurao-enteritis prevalent in the Alps). 



In a German periodical^ recently published, a summary of the views 

 of forty-five Danish veterinary surgeons is given on this malady. It is 

 concluded that there can be no doubt as to the infectious character of 

 abortion, and that it can be propagated from stable to stable, or cowshed 

 to cowshed by infected animals — male or female ; immunity is acquired 

 after two or three years, as the disease disappears of itself from an 

 establishment if no new animals are introduced, though getting rid of 

 those which abort and replacing them by others may continue the 

 scourge for an indefinite period. When the herd is not renewed the 

 prevalence of the malady decreases spontaneously, the abortions gradu- 

 ally become fewer, and the accident only occurs towards the end of 

 pregnancy, finally ceasing. 



The treatment found successful in combating the disease in Denmark 

 consisted chiefly in rigorous disinfection of the stables or cowsheds 

 twice a year, by cleansing them and washing with a 1 per cent, solution 

 of chloride of lime ; though the stalls, walls, etc., were, when possible, 

 washed once a week, and the drains flushed everyday. Animals about 

 to abort were immediately isolated, and looked after by a special 

 attendant who was not allowed to go among healthy pregnant animals. 

 The foetal membranes were removed within twelve hours after abortion, 

 and, together with the foetus, buried in lime ; while the genital cavity 

 was repeatedly washed out with a 1 per cent, solution of creolin, or i 

 per cent, of lysol, until all vaginal discharge had ceased. Cows which 

 had aborted were not put to the Bull until two or three months had 

 elapsed, so as to prevent extension of the infection, and afford a better 

 chance for their becoming pregnant again. Even Cows and Heifers in 

 infected places and apparently healthy, received a vaginal injection 

 before copulation ; afterwards the parts about the tail and vulva were 

 carefully washed every day with a mild disinfectant. The Bull 

 employed in an infected locality was treated in a similar manner, the 

 parts about the generative organs being cleansed and disinfected before 

 and after service. 



It is most important that animals from infected herds or studs be 

 not introduced among healthy pregnant Cows or Mares, unless every 

 precaution is taken against contamination ; and if these suspected 

 animals are pregnant they should certainly be isolated until parturition 

 is completed. 



With regard to the symptoms, there is not much to be added to what 

 has been already stated. Abortion generally occurs in the Mare from 

 the fourth to the ninth month of pregnancy, in the Cow from the third 

 to the seventh month. Before it happens the vaginal mucous membrane 

 is observed to be reddened, and pimple-like elevations about the size of 

 a millet-seed are often seen on its surface ; while there is a reddish- 

 tinted discharge from the vagina, and the diminished yield of milk has 

 the consistency of colostrum. In about three days after the appearance 

 of the vaginal discharge abortion occurs, but the discharge frequently 

 continues for a considerable time afterwards. 



1 Deutsche Ztitschr'ift fur Thiermelichie und V ergleichende Pathologie, xxi.. 1895. 



