ABORTION. 43 



apparent s\'mptoms will give ample npi>nrlunil)" tn ilri\-o tlic disease from the 

 system, save tlie ealf and leave the cow in Rood ennditinn t'jr milk ])roduetion. 



Nothing is snrer than tlie absolute eradication of aljorlion, if the system nf 

 treatment is persistently pm-sued, 



I'lven wdien the disease has advanced so far as to kill the foetus, the cnw can he 

 saved and placed in prime breeding condition .'ifter the foetus is expelled; while 

 without treatment, she is likely to become barren ami \vorth!ess. besides being a 

 source of infection to other cows. 



Does the Treatment Hurry Abortion? 



When Contagious Abortion reaches the stage in which the umbilical cord of 

 the foetus is so diseased as to shut off the circulation from the mnther, ami. as a 

 consequence, life ceases in the foetus, the treatment has a tendency to cause the 

 act of abortion. .\nd this is one of the good points of the treatment. For the 

 longer the foetus is carried after life is extinct, the .greater the damage to the cow 

 and the danger to the herd. 



Xo cattle owner should hesitate to begin the treatment at any stage of the 

 disease; for the hnal result is always the complete stamping out of the disease, 

 and delays at any time not only defer this desired result, hut entail material losses. 



If a pregnant cow, nut affected by abortion, be treated as a precaution, the 

 treatment has no ill effects un her. Xeither is an_\- ill effect produced upon the 

 quality of milk when milch cows are treated. 



SYMPTOMS OF CONTAGIOUS ABORTION DESCRIBED. 



Abortion .germs may exist for months, or e\en ye;irs, in the system of an 

 animal, in a cnmparatively inactive state, without making any distinct outward 

 sign of their presence. 



A number of cows aljorting in a herd should be looked upon with suspicion and 

 an_\- of the following signs looked for: swelling of the udder and \ul\a ; separ- 

 ation from the balance of the herd ; dullness ; cessation of chewing i">f end ; restless- 

 ness ; stamping of the hind feet ; passing of a small water bag and a little later 

 a foetus. Sometimes both arc expelled together; then again the foetus will be 

 expelled and the afterbirth retained. 



The first certain syniptom is the appearance of small red patches in the \uh'a. 

 Frequent examination should be made in this manner : have a helper hold aside 

 the tail of the cow, heifer, (.ir ealf. ami, with your t\eo hands, open the lips of the 

 \ul\-a. The appearance of small red patches on the lining membrane of the vulva 

 is unmistakable evidence that the animal is infected and in condition to spread 

 the disease. Service of the herd bull to a cow or h.eifer showing these symptoms 

 will infect the bull and render him in condition to spread the disease to your 

 entire herd and other herds where he is used. 



If in the pregnant cf)W or heifer there appears with the red patches in the 

 vuh'a, a secretion of white matter, prompt action should be taken, as she is in 

 bad condition. 



Swelling of the udder and vulva at any time Ijefore the hist m(jnth of 

 ])regnancv, are advanced symptoms of abortion, and the crisis may come at any 

 time. Flowever, prompt attention will often prevent abortion even at this advanced 

 stage of the disease. 



Waiting for Distinct Symptoms is Dangerous and Expensive. 



When the first appearance of the red patches in the, vulva is noticeil, it is the 

 l)art of wisdoiTi to disinfect the stables and treat the affected parts of the animals 

 showing symptoms with the antiseptic wash. 



