DISEASES OF CATTLE 333 



kinds; the drinking of putrid, stagnant water; of ice water; 

 the eating of iced grass; of ergot, of smuts on corn or other 

 grains; and severe illness. The more direct mechanical causes 

 are falls, strains, violent exertion, and blows ; also traveling on 

 icy ground, muddy roads, or jumping over fences, ditches, and 

 the like. 



The prevention of non-contagious abortion is the avoidance 

 of all causes that are likely to produce it. All causes of excite- 

 ment, of constipation, of diarrhea, of indigestion, and the like 

 must be avoided. With cattle, non-contagious abortion may 

 often be prevented, although the first signs have appeared. So 

 long as the fetus has not perished, the waters not discharged, nor 

 the water-bags presented, attempts should be made to check the 

 progress. Place the cow alone in a quiet stall and check the 

 labor pains if possible. To do this, laudanum given in one ounce 

 doses for small cows and two ounce doses for large ones is good. 

 Repeat the dose in three or four hours should the labor pains 

 recur. When all measures fail and miscarriage results, all that 

 can be done is to assist in the removal of the fetus and its mem- 

 branes, as in ordinary parturition. 



Contagious abortion in cows. — Though not well understood, 

 contagious abortion is known to be due to an organism. The 

 germ producing the disease is conveyed by infected bulls, by the 

 tongue or tail of infected animals, or by the external genital 

 organs coming in contact with the wall, fence, rubbing post, 

 litter, or floor which has been previously soiled by an infected 

 animal. 



Cows should be kept in fair flesh and in vigorous condition. 

 The method of preventing contagious abortion differs from non- 

 contagious only in the separation of the infected animals and in 

 free use of disinfectants. When a cow shows signs of aborting, 

 or when she has aborted, she should be separated from the other 

 cows and the stable or stall she occupied thoroughly disinfected. 

 For this purpose, use a 5 per cent solution of carbolic acid or a 



