746 Infectious Abortion. 



one or two days, with manifestations of intestinal catarrh. 

 The afterbirth shows a subchorial edema and a marked injec- 

 tion of the chorion, and a muco-purulent exudate exists between 

 the tufts of the cotyledons. 



Poljakow frequently found a rarifying ostitis in the beginning 

 and towards the end of an outbreak in mares, whereas at the height 

 of the outbreak he found manifestations of septicemia, such as a de- 

 generation of the parenchymatous organs, hemorrhages m the serous 

 membranes, and dark liquid blood. 



Guillerey observed in the course of an outbreak in which 87 out 

 of 97 pregnant mares aborted, the development of sequels, such as 

 febrile nephritis lasting from 6 to 8 days (of 15 such mares one died as 

 the result of it), arthritis (especially in the hock), tendonitis, acute 

 laminitis, hemoglobinuria, inflammation of the Vena saphena, finally 

 pneumonia. Desoubry saw in mares after abortion a rise of tempera- 

 ture up to 40° C, and with a marked depression of the sensorium 

 catarrhal symptoms of the genital passages, which in exceptional cases 

 increased to an inflammation of the uterus. 



Bulls that have covered affected cows, exceptionally show a diseased 

 condition of the genital organs. Thus Reindl found nodules on the 

 penis of a bull similar to those observed in cows shortly before abor- 

 tion; Nohr also observed acute inflammatory manifestations on the 

 penis in several bulls after the infectious coitus. 



Diagnosis. The infectious character of abortion is indi- 

 cated by the prodromal symptoms which appear 2 to 3 days 

 before the expulsion of the fetus. These are manifested in 

 a swelling of the vulva, vaginal discharge, as an indication 

 of an existing catarrh of the genital passages. In other forms 

 of abortion, excepting in infectious vaginal catarrh, the abortion 

 occurs without such prodromal symptoms, or there may pre- 

 viously be observed disturbances of digestion and symptoms 

 of general illness as in general infectious diseases or in poison- 

 ing. The infectious nature of abortion is further indicated 

 by an existing vaginal discharge which continues subsequently 

 for a long time, and by a large amount of fibrinous purulent 

 exudate on the fetal membrane. Later sufficient ground is 

 afforded in this respect by the rapidly following cases of abor- 

 tion, when the diagnosis is further confirmed by the exclusion 

 of other causes. 



In young cows, sometimes also in mares, swelling of the vulva, a 

 slight amount of mucous discharge, as well as debility and diminished 

 appetite appear sometimes toward the end of the fifth month of preg- 

 nancy, but these symptoms disappear after 3 to 4 days, and then the 

 pregnancy and parturition follow in a normal manner (Cagny). 



In abortion of cows a microscopical examination of the vaginal 

 discharge is very advisable; in this the fine, unevenly stained bacilli 

 of abortion are found either exclusively or' in predominating majority, 

 but always in great numbers (the dried, cover-glass preparations stain 

 most readily with carbol-fuchsin ; see". Fig. 127). 



