Failure to Breed. 235 



it is scarcely consistent to infer that mature ova are abund- 

 ant in the midst of a breeding term, when a large amount 

 of blood is required by the embryo. Ova are abundant 

 after calving at full term, when there is much less demand 

 at the uterus for blood. Hence matured ova are probably 

 few during pregnancy, and much more abundant after 

 full-term delivery ; and fewer still after an abortment, some 

 time previous to full term. We are limited to conjecture, 

 in such cases, as to why aborting cows repeatedly fail to 

 breed, after single and repeated recurrences of heat and 

 coupling. But there is certainly a much disordered and 

 feverish condition of the uterine and ovarian organs. 

 There is probably also an irritated and inflamed condition 

 of both these parts. 



The repeated recurrence of this accidental heat, in a 

 degree that leads to coupling, is the result of a more or 

 less prolonged continuance of the condition of engorge- 

 ment, or its recurrence in the blood-vessels around the 

 uterus and ovaries, as already intimated. This engorge- 

 ment probably continues a longer or shorter period, ac- 

 cording to the degree of artery relaxation; and is likely 

 to be greater, and to require more time for its reduction, 

 the larger the embryo and its blood supply are at the time 

 of the abortment. And the greater the extent of relaxa- 

 tion from engorgement around the ovaries, in any given 

 case, the longer the local excess of blood must continue ; 

 and the number of recurring heat periods and couplings 

 will usually correspond. 



That the accidental presence of more blood, and blood 

 heat, about the ovaries, leads to coupling from this ex- 

 cess of active blood-heat, seems highly probable. A gen- 

 erally disordered condition of the uterus, and ovarian parts, 

 resulting from abortion, is certain. There may be result- 

 ing degeneration in the oviducts, or these tubes may pos- 

 sibly be closed by the compression resulting from the irri- 



