Infectious Abortion of the Cow 505 



from the herd and from observation, so that the data upon this 

 point are probably not very reliable. 



The control and eradication of the disease in cows is a prob- 

 lem which requires a very careful, detailed study in each instance, 

 upon the part of the attending veterinarian. In a herd or stable 

 where the disease exists, the same precautions should be insti- 

 tuted as we have already suggested, on page 488, for the mare. 

 Cows which have aborted should be promptly removed from the 

 stable ; the aborted fetus, afterbirth and soiled bedding should 

 be carefully removed and burned ; and the stall and gutters should 

 be thoroughly disinfected. The aborted cow should be effectively 

 isolated, and the uterus daily flushed out with a warm antiseptic 

 solution, such as i to 2 % of creolin or lysol. The solution should 

 be of sufficient volume to fill the uterine cavity several times, so 

 that the cleansing may be complete. 



Each pregnant cow should be carefully observed, and if any 

 signs of impending abortion appear, such as a vaginal discharge 

 . with swelling of the lips of the vulva, she should be promptly 

 removed and the stall thoroughly disinfected. 



The vulva, perineum, tail and neighboring parts of each ex- 

 posed cow should be thoroughly washed daily for at least two 

 weeks with strong antiseptics, such as a 2 or 3 % solution of creolin 

 or carbolic acid or a i-iooo solution of corrosive sublimate. 



Whatever may be the possibilities of the invasion of the infec- 

 tion through other avenues, it must be admitted from all clinical 

 data that the most important, if not constant portal, is the vulvo- 

 vaginal canal. This renders it fundamentally important that the 

 vaginae of all cows, whether pregnant or not, in a stable where 

 the disease exists, shall be thoroughly disinfected. A neglect of 

 this precaution may leave the infection undisturbed for days or 

 weeks, to later penetrate the gravid uterus and cause abortion in 

 the animal harboring it, or serve as a new center of infection by 

 escaping in the vaginal discharges to prove a menace to neighbor- 

 ing pregnant cows. 



It is not advisable to use so strong a solution for irrigating the 

 vagina as that suggested above for disinfecting the external 

 parts, but instead one should employ a comparatively non-irritant 

 antiseptic solution, in order to obviate severe straining, such as 

 a I to 2 % lysol or carbolic acid solution. This should be in- 

 jected into the vaginae daily for two or three days. We cannot 



