334 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



1 to 1000 solution of corrosive sublimate. All litter and the dead 

 fetus should be burned. After the cow has aborted, she must 

 be kept thoroughly clean by use of a disinfectant. Dissolve 1 

 dram of corrosive sublimate, 1 ounce each of alcohol and glycer- 

 ine, shake this up in a gallon of water, and use as an injection 

 into the vagina and wash the parts about the vulva and root of 

 the tail. Disinfect the animal each day as long as the discharge 

 continues. Do not breed aborting cows for two or three months. 

 For two days before breeding, the vagina should be washed out 

 with the subUmate-alcohol-glycerine-soIution, but on the day 

 of breeding warm water only should be used as the corrosive 

 sublimate will destroy the semen. The disease seems to run 

 out and disappear from the herd after a time. 



The best methods of combating contagious abortion are 

 cleanHness, the free use of disinfectants, isolation of infected 

 cows, and precautions against using infected bulls. Many pre- 

 ventive remedies have been suggested, of which the following is 

 as good as any: Mix one pound of pulverized hyposulfite of 

 soda, one pound of sulfur, and ten pounds of common salt. 

 Give a small handful to each pregnant cow two or three times 

 a week. 



Difficult parturition. — There are a number of causes of diffi- 

 cult parturition among cattle. Cows, however, have an ad- 

 vantage over mares, in that the fetus and fetal membranes are 

 more strongly attached and not so likely to be disconnected and 

 may, therefore, be left alone longer with practically no danger 

 to the young. Among cows the maxim may be : Do not inter- 

 fere too soon. Bruising, tearing of the passages, and bleeding 

 from the uncontracted womb may follow the too rapid extrac- 

 tion of the calf. If there is no obstruction, let the calf be ex- 

 pelled slowly by the unaided efforts of the cow. 



If, however, after the cow has labored some time, there 

 seems to be some mechanical obstruction, she should be ex- 

 amined. As this is likely to be much of a task, the operator 



