248 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



from the machine without mterruptiou' — which can be 

 occasionally done by the cow aborting — as from cows 

 carrying their calves to full time, and the consequent loss 

 of three months' milk, (although an occasional cow re- 

 main dry as the result of abortion,) when butter, cheese 

 and milk command so high a price ?" 



The efforts of others to solve the apparent mystery sur- 

 rounding the cause of abortion have been considerable, and 

 the results have been invariably somewhat contradictory, 

 negative, non-committal, or of questionable utility. Thus 

 the New York State Agricultural Society, through its then 

 president, J. S. Gould, presented a memorial to the Legis- 

 lature of the State, setting forth the evil results recurring 

 to the dairy interests of the State, and asking for an 

 appropriation to defray the expenses of a commission to 

 investigate the cause, and point out a remedy; also, 

 assuring the Legislature that if the prayer was granted, 

 certain veterinary surgeons and medical men in Philadel- 

 phia, etc., were likely to throw light upon the cause, and 

 recommend a cure. Thus, at the very beginning of his 

 efforts, Mr. Gould perpetrates a blunder ; for no veterinary 

 surgeon or medical man from Philadelphia was employed 

 on the commission. The choice of Mr. Gould was J. C 

 Dalton, M. D., of New York, whose report of investigationa 

 and their results disappointed many persons who had 

 entertained high expectations from it ; for it proved to be 

 negative, and of little use to the dairy interest. The 

 Society evidently was not satisfied with Dalton's report, 

 for next year a new commission was formed, with W. H. 

 Carmalt, of New York, at its head, but with no veterinary 

 surgeon attached to it. His report was rendered in due 

 time, and though non-committal in character, it con- 

 tained valuable inform ation to all interested in th e dairy. 



