42 ABORT IDX 



On tlie tlicruy lliat crgnt u.uild cause aliMrti'ni, i.uncrs '/f fine ciiws acciclciitly 

 ycttiiiK with calf from iiradc mi- moiiKTel bulls, have tried to hriiig alioiit aliortion 

 hy adniiiiisteri)iL;- larse iloscs "f ergot. The failure of such attempts in e\'cr\- case 

 cdininn lo iu\- knowledge or ohcsrvation is further e\-idcnce that ergot does not 

 ermse ahortion 



dhe fact I hat a cnw afflicted with ergotism, or auy other disease, aborts, docs 

 uot prn\c nor indicate that this disease is the cause of the abortiou. P^xamination 

 .and test will show in nearly all cases that the cow is suf^'eriug from Contagious 

 Aliortiou, /;; oiUiihi'ii tn athcr alliiiciits. and the act .,f aborticm is the direct result 

 of the activity of the germs of Contagious Afjortion. 



4. Barrenness. 



Barrenness results from abortion in two ways: 



First, the presence and activity of abortion germs in the womb will cause 

 barrenness: the germs causing a catarrhal condition of the womb and destroying 

 the vitalit\' of the semen of the bull, thus preventing conception. 



The (lestructi<m of tlie germs of abortion in the system of the cow, liy the 

 aliortiou treatment, will often o\ercome this form of barrenness and restore the 

 cow to her former usefulness. 



Second, the diseased condition of the genital organs in Contagious Abortion 

 frequentl\- causes the mouth of the woiiib to became raw and irritated. When the 

 disease is eradicated from the system, the mouth of the womb will heal up in 

 a calloused conilition, and become completel\- closed. This prevents the cow 

 from .breeding, and is usually regarded as permanent barrenness. But even this 

 form of barrenness can be o\'ercome by a special treatment. 



Positive permanent barrenness is far less common than is generally believed. 

 Only the absence or destruction of the ovaries, or otlier vital parts of the repro- 

 ductive organs, or cc)nstitutional interference with their functions, will produce 

 permanent barrenness. 



Xo dairyman or breeder should dispose of a valuable cow because she does not 

 breed, until he has thoroughly in\-estigated the cause and made an effort to remove it. 



5. Scours in Calves. 



I have already called attention to the fact that scours in calves is often the 

 result of Contagious Abortion germs born in the calf. This disease, like all other 

 developments of abortion, is communicable to other members of the herd. 



Housing of Cattle. 



AVhile this subject is not directl\' under discussion here, I cannot pass on 

 without repeating what is everywhere urged; give cows plenty of sunlight and good 

 ventilation. Damp, dark, poorl3-\entilated ciuarters, partly underground, are abso- 

 lutely certain to prepare the way for disease to enter, and to spread to the entire 

 herd whatever contagious malady may affect one or more animals. An open shed 

 is preferable to dark, foul basement stalls. X'o amount of fumigation or disinfection 

 can make up for lack of air .and sunlight. 



CONTAGIOUS ABORTION CAN BE ERADICATED. 



Procrastination is not only the thief of time, but the purloiner of profits in 

 the live stock business. And there is no disease of cattle, e.xcepting possibly tuber- 

 culosis, that aih-ances more stealthily "under cover" than Contagious Abortion. An 

 -■ entire herd ma_\- be afflicted without apparent symptoms. Later, the disease may 

 so develop. as to render treatment unavailing as far as saving the calves is concerned. 



But when careful examinations are made at frequent periods, the first and less 



