Symptoms. 755 



the dbservations in which oestrum appears repeatedly in the 

 animals, and conception only after repeated copulations, or 

 not at all. On the other hand there are also numerous observa- 

 tions at hand according to which the disease has no unfavorable 

 influence on either conception, or on the full development of 

 the fetus. 



These contradictory results of observations are probably 

 due to the variations in the character of the disease. On the 

 other hand the possibility is not excluded that conception is 

 prevented by a non-specific uterine catarrh, and the abortion 

 to which Bang has already called attention, is not brought on 

 by the vaginitis, but by "infectious abortion." Both forms of 

 the disease may be confounded with each other, as in infectious 

 abortion, the follicles of the vaginal mucous membrane may 

 also be swollen, besides the animals affected with infectious 

 vaginitis may very likely be affected also with the virus of 

 the above-mentioned affection. As a matter of fact the ob- 

 servations in which most, or the total number of cows, or two- 

 thirds, and even 80% of the animals failed to conceive, as a 

 result of the affection, can be hardly credited, in view of the 

 nature of the somewhat mild local disease process. The same 

 may be applied also to the supposed connection of vaginal 

 catarrh with the severe purulent, or septic inflammation of 

 the uterine mucous membranes, as well as with affections of 

 the ovaries. In consideration of the uncertainty of this, accu- 

 rate and especially bacteriologic examinations would be very 

 desirable. 



According to Heckelmann's experience, out of 448 affected cows 65% con- 

 ceived with certainty, 14% probably, wliile 21% failed to become pregnant again. 

 In the district of OIpe in 1902 only 48 out of 296 affected cows gave birth to 

 living, well developed calves. According to Eaebiger sometimes 68% of the 

 affected animals abort, while EUinger claims 50-70% of normal births. Swiss 

 veterinarians also report on frequent sterility (30-50%, and even more) in affected 

 animals. Nuesch claims infectious vaginitis as the cause of non-conception in 80%, 

 Fasciati in 60-70% ; some veterinarians, however, have failed to observe such results 

 in their practice, and according to Kusterholz conception fails only in a certain 

 form of tho difease. 



Bad results in these directions have been observed in Hungary only in recent 

 times. Keleti established that in 20 herds, 17 out of 503 affected cows remained 

 sterile, and 7 aborted, while in the same locality out of 489 healthy cattle 15 

 remained sterile and 8 aborted. The percentage was therefore in both groups quite 

 uniform (4.8 and 4.7%). Likewise there was no difference in primiparae, whefher 

 affected or not. Kovarzik failed also to observe bad results, and Landler noted 

 the conception of all affected anim.als in a herd of 240, all of which gave birth 

 normally. Recently, however, be has not infrequently observed abortion and still 

 more frequently sterility. 



In regard to the publications on the economic losses from infectious vaginitis, 

 Angstein states that the almost uniform sterility or abortion of the animals is by 

 no means as extensive in practice as might be inferred from published reports; 

 as a matter of fact, the di?eafe appears very frequently in herds without the 

 owners having the slightest idea of its existence, as they fail to observe any detri- 

 mental results. 



Bulls which" have covered affected cows become affected 

 rarely and then usually but mildly. In such cases they show 

 dullness and frequent micturition, which is sometimes asso- 



