BULLETIN OF THE 



No. 106 



Contribution from the Bureau of Animal Industry, A. D. Melvin, Chief. 

 September 12, 1914. 



(PROFESSIONAL PAPER.) 



THE GRANULAR VENEREAL DISEASE AND 

 ABORTION IN CATTLE. 



By W. L. Williams, 1 Professor of Surgery, Veterinary Department, Cornell University. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Early in 1909 the writer had publicly announced the existence in 

 a dairy herd in New York of the granular venereal disease, nodular 

 vaginitis, or vaginitis folliculorum chronica contagiosa. Later ob- 

 servations showed that it was general, if not universal, among the 

 herds of the State. This disease having been held responsible by 

 many continental European veterinarians of high authority for the 

 abortion and sterility of cows, it was deemed important that first 

 of all it should be determined how widely and extensively this 

 malady exists among the cattle of the United States. In order to accom- 

 plish this, it was decided to make post-mortem observations upon the 

 genitalia of cows, heifers, and heifer calves on the killing floors of 

 abattoirs at some of the principal slaughtering centers. The inspec- 

 tors in charge of the Federal meat inspection at these stations, under 

 instructions from the Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry, United 

 States Department of Agriculture, cooperated most heartily, and a 

 large volume of most interesting material was furnished in the most 

 convenient manner possible for inspection. 



The importance of abortion and sterility in cows is rapidly becom- 

 ing more acutely felt by breeders, and is each year playing a more 

 serious part in the national economy. By interfering more and more 

 with the reproductive powers of cows, these diseases exert an unfavor- 

 able influence upon the production of meat, milk, and dairy products, 

 decreasing the supply and increasing the cost. 



i In conjunction with the Pathological Division, Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. 



Note. — This bulletin describes a very common affection of breeding cattle, as to which there is a wide 

 diversity of opinion. The paper is the result of extensive study, and is of interest to veterinarians and 

 cattle raisers generally. 



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