RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 69 



The losses from abortions are not confined to the death of the 

 immature foetus. The attendant conditions of retained afterbirth, 

 sterihty and weakling calves, the loss of milk, the cost of combat- 

 ing the disease, and not least the loss in breeding efficiency in 

 valuable animals combine to make an enormous total. In some in- 

 stances, the loss reaches fifty per cent and even seventy-five per cent 

 of the calf crop. It is the man who has had to combat abortion 

 who can realize how long and difficult a procedure it is. Th'e stock 

 industry has already suft'ered a setback from the discouragement of 

 owners, some of whom, in despair, have abandoned the keeping of 

 cattle, and others again are contemplating the same course unless 

 relief can be aft'orded. 



SYMPTOMS 



The signs of approaching abortion are : Two or three days 

 before the expulsion of the foetus there will be a swelling of the 

 udder, swelling of the external genitals, and the appearance of a 

 slimy, odorless discharge from the vagina. These symptoms may 

 not, however, always appear and abortion may occur without warn- 

 ing. In young animals and those aborting for the first time abortion 

 usually occurs at an early period. This may occur in the third or 

 fourth month of pregnancy and may pass unnoticed because of. the 

 smallncss of the foetus and the absence of disturbance in the gen- 

 eral health of the cow. It may lead the owner to believe that she 

 has failed to conceive. On the other hand, where abortion takes 

 place in the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy, retained after- 

 birth is a common occurrence and the act is accompanied by rest- 

 lessness and pain. In some cases pregnancy may continue almost 

 to the full term and the calf may be born alive, but weak and soon 

 dies. In herds where the disease is known to be present, these cases 

 should also be considered as abortions. 



TREATMENT 



In every event the genital organs must be strengthened and 

 built up to their natural strength and resisting power in order that 

 they may perform their proper functions. For this purpose give 

 one teaspoonful of Genitone in food once daily, per cow, for one 

 month after abortion has taken place. Then rest until about six 

 weeks before the usual period when abortion sets in, and continue 

 as above until the cow has delivered a healthy calf. If a cow in 

 your stable has aborted, destroy the calf, afterbirth, and litter by 



