II04 Veterinary Obstetrics 



The acquired immunity to abortion affords the charlatan his 

 opportunity to play upon the credulity of the owner and profit 

 by the sale of his nostrums. If he sells his nostrums at the 

 opportune moment, the owner believes a cure has been effected, 

 when in fact there is an acquired immunity to abortion in the 

 animal, though the actual disease is still there, ready to spread 

 to other susceptible animals, or, upon provocation, to again flare 

 up and cause abortion, steriHty, or other disagreeable con- 

 sequences. 



Intelligently handled, the prognosis is good. Such is the 

 general view of European authors, and such are the indications 

 based upon our observations. Our experience is too brief, how- 

 ever, to warrant unqualified acceptance of any of the conclusions 

 to which we may have come. The cure of the disease is no idle 

 task. 



The germs, being deeply imbedded among the epithelial cells 

 and in the follicles of the genital mucosa, can neither be readily 

 washed away nor killed in position. Evidently the basis of 

 treatment is disinfection, but the thorough destruction of disease- 

 producing organisms so deepl5- entrenched is a difficult task. 

 Yet the experience of others, and our brief efforts, indicate that it 

 is by no means a hopeless task, but one which promises definite 

 and satisfactory results, at a very small expenditure of labor and 

 material, when compared with the benefits to accrue. 



The proph3'laxis is simple. The handling of sterility following 

 the malady is quite satisfactory. 



The treatment of the disease is based fundamentally upon 

 disinfection. Four important questions arise, none of which are 

 fully decided. It has not been determined what disinfectant is 

 best, in what degree of concentration the disinfectant shall be 

 used, the extent of the area requiring disinfection, or the manner 

 and frequency of application. Richter (B. T. W. No. 42, p. 774} 

 advises bacillol ointment, and reports cures in 28.6% of cases in 

 4-6 weeks. Diem, (W. f. T., Vol. LI, p. 181), prefers irriga- 

 tions to ointments, and commends }^-i% formalin. Wohlmutter 

 (Thierartzliche Centralblatt, 1906, No. 2, p. 4) favors bacillol 

 ointment in capsules, and considers two months the minimum 

 time for healing. Raebiger (B. T. W., 1906, No. 13, p. 241) 

 advises a 6-10% bacillol ointment as the best method, and applies 

 this with a special syringe. This he would alternate with a 2-3^ 



