DISEASES OF THE URINARY AND REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 317 



mucous membrane lining this organ is damaged more and more, 

 so becomes less resistant to attack by the myriads of germs that 

 are present waiting for an opportunity to invade the tissues and 

 produce inflammation. 



ACCIDENTAL ABORTION 



Abortion is the expulsion of the fetus before the period of 

 gestation is completed. It is also known as miscarriage and 

 premature birth. Mares are more subject to accidental abortion 

 than are cows 



Causes. — Accidental abortion may be the result of a kick, 

 fall, slip, strain, horn thrust, or similar accident. These causes 

 are far less frequently responsible for abortions than is popularly 

 believed. One well known authority even goes so far as to say 

 that no authentic case of accidental abortion in the cow has 

 been recorded. 



Symptoms. — In typical cases the udder becomes swollen, 

 the external genitals congested, and a vaginal discharge occurs 

 a few hours to a few days before the fetus is expelled. 



Treatment. — At the first suspicion of abortion the animal 

 should be removed to a box stall. The aborted fetus, membranes, 

 and soiled litter must be disposed of at once in a sanitary manner, 

 for it should be borne in mind that later developments may show 

 infection with the germ that causes the contagious form to have 

 been the cause. The ration for a few days should be laxative 

 in character and limited in quantity. In case the placental 

 membranes are retained, proceed as directed in the discussion 

 of this condition. 



GARGET 



The disease known as garget is also termed caked udder, mam- 

 mitis, and mastitis. In a broad sense it is any inflammation 

 of the mammary gland. It occurs most frequently in the dairy 

 cow because her udder has been developed by careful breeding to 

 a wonderful capacity, which renders it more subject to disease. 

 There are two forms of mastitis, one is not transmitted to other 

 cows, while the other is. 



Causes. — It seems certain that most cases are the result of an 

 invasion by a number of bacteria. The form of the affection 



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