108 BOVINE 0BSTETBIC8 



to that party is considerable. As a result of abortion, the foetus 

 is born either dead or reaches the external world in a worthless 

 state ; further, the production of milk is interfered with, and 

 the total sum of milk of the coming period of lactation remains 

 far below the normal quantity. The cow herself may also 

 become diseased. Chronic and acute sequels often follow 

 abortion, as retention of the afterbirth (retentio secundinarum) , 

 and, in consequence of it, emaciation, metritis, leucorrhcea and 

 even a fatal pyaemia. 



Abortion may confine itself to single cases here and there 

 in one or more stables or herds. Among twenty or thirty cows, 

 one or three to four cases appear. Under these circumstances, 

 we speak of a sporadic abortion. When numerous cases mani- 

 fest themselves so frequently in a stable or certain herd or 

 locality, that natural parturition forms the exception and abor- 

 tion the rule, one speaks of a stationary abortion. Stationary 

 abortion in stables, herds or localities, when depending on an 

 iufection, is termed infectious abortion ; when of an enzootic type, 

 it is called enzootic abortion. As the definition shows, stationary 

 abortion is not necessarily infectious. The causes of abortion 

 may be the same for all animals — for instance, mouldy food. 

 Just as little need an infectious abortion be stationary. It may 

 confine itself to one or more stables ; the latter is often 

 observed. 



I. — NON-INFECTIOUS ABORTION. 



j^'iology. — Let us first raise the question. Why is abortion 

 so common in tbe cow and rare in the balance of domestic 

 animals ? According to Schneidemiihl, one of the most import- 

 ant causes of extensive abortion among milch cows lies with- 

 out doubt in the faulty selection and care of the mother, being 

 contrary to all laws of hygiene and rational breeding. As a 

 matter of economic interest, the cow has been pushed to her 

 physiological limits ; a step further, and the great lacteal secre- 

 tion induces disturbances, which leads to the question whether 

 the greater gain in milk overbalances the acquired want of 

 resistance, predisposing her to many diseases. 



