44 BULLETIN 106, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



edema. In the utero-chorionic space there was an abundance of a sticky yellowish 

 substance in small masses 1 to 5 mm. in diameter. Some of the cotyledons were scarlet. 

 The organism of abortion was recovered from the uterus. 



Case 6. — Inoculated May 2, 1911 (15 c. c. of abortion bacillus culture in the jugular 

 vein), aborted July 25, and killed July 26, 1911. In the utero-chorionic space there 

 were found numerous irregular masses of a yellowish substance that tended to adhere 

 to the chorion. This substance was in small flakelike masses varying in size from 1 

 to 10 mm. in diameter and from 1 to 3 mm. in thickness. It was also found around the 

 separated cotyledons and was very much in evidence in the fundus of the uterus, where 

 it had been washed by the fluids. A few cotyledons near the internal os were scarlet. 

 The chorion showed slight edema throughout. The organism of abortion was recovered 

 from the uterus. 



Case 7. — Inoculated May 2, 1911 (10 c. c. of abortion bacillus culture in the jugular 

 vein), aborted July 26, and killed July 26, 1911. The gravid horn of the placenta 

 showed marked edema. A substance similar to that found in the utero-chorionic 

 space of Case 6 was found, but was present here in a much smaller amount. The or- 

 ganism of abortion was not recovered. 



The lesions recorded in the foregoing appear identical with those 

 described as typical of contagious abortion. The uniformity with 

 which the abortion exudate has been demonstrated in all recorded 

 autopsies immediately following abortion in cows witnesses strongly 

 that the abortion exudate has an essential relation in the causation 

 of contagious abortion, and, so far as the small number of recorded 

 autopsies can support, indicates that abortion in cows is an essen- 

 tially contagious disease and that mechanical abortion is rare and 

 negligible. 



PHENOMENA WITHIN THE UTERINE CAVITY. 



During our investigations we observed numerous instances where 

 some suggestive phenomena appeared within the uterine cavity. 

 Twenty- two of these cases presented evidences warranting the con- 

 clusion that the infection of contagious abortion was present, or (in 

 cases where the fetus had perished and undergone more or less dis- 

 integration) that they had been infected with contagious abortion. 

 While the cases vary somewhat in their character, they agree in a 

 general way with each other and are in substantial accord with the 

 lesions observed in the uteri of cows killed immediately after abortion. 



Case 1. — Age four years, length of fetus 31 inches, right ovary normal, left ovary- 

 corpus luteum. Uterine seal intact. Exterior of uterus normal. The utero-chorionic 

 space was filled throughout with an exudate of a dirty grayish color, puslike in ap- 

 pearance, odorless. The exudate was thickest at the cervix. The total amount of 

 exudate was estimated at 1 gallon. The uterine walls were not materially thickened, 

 the uterine mucosa was injected with some small, necrotic-appearing patches. The 

 cotyledons were freely detachable, but not materially altered. The chorion appeared 

 normal in thickness in the gravid horn, edematous in the nongravid. The uterine 

 surface of the chorion was injected. 



The allantois, amnion, and fetus were apparently normal. 



Case 2. — Aged cow, fetus full term. Uterine seal intact. Upon opening the uterine 

 cavity a yellowish-brown, tough exudate was found about the os uteri internum. 



