1909.] Report on Epizootic Abortion. 



remain in an infected byre, and it may be discarded. Imme- 

 diately before removing an animal from infected to clean 

 premises, however, it would be advisable to wash the posterior 

 portions of its body thoroughly with a disinfectant solution, 

 such as corrosive sublimate, i in 2,000, or carbolic acid, 3 per 

 cent. 



Isolation of Animals as soon as they show Signs of 

 Abortion. — The necessity for this measure is obvious, and 

 its importance cannot be too much insisted on. Only a 

 proportion of the affected animals, however, show pre- 

 monitory symptoms, and quite a number may abort amongst 

 their companions without warning. Measures of immediate 

 isolation, therefore, lose much of their undoubted theoretical 

 value, owing to the difficulty in the way of carrying them 

 out in practice. It is hoped, however, that further investiga- 

 tions will furnish a method of diagnosing the disease a 

 considerable time before the uterus has ejected its virulent 

 contents, and so give to measures of isolation their full and 

 undoubted value in practice. 



Internal Administration of Carbolic Acid. — As a preventive 

 agent by internal administration, carbolic acid is believed to 

 be useless. 



Irrigation of the Genital Passages after Abortion. — It is 

 considered probable that disinfection of the uterus by anti- 

 septics is not necessary to rid the organ of abortion bacilli, 

 and the Committee are of opinion that it is futile to attempt 

 it by irrigation methods. So long as a discharge continues 

 to come from the genital passages, it is thought that for 

 hygienic and therapeutic reasons they ought to be cleansed 

 once or twice daily by the intra-vaginal injection of tepid 

 antiseptic solutions, such as a 2 per cent, solution of carbolic 

 acid or a 1 in 3,000 solution of corrosive sublimate, but not 

 on the ground that the injections will disinfect the uterus. 

 It will seldom be necessary to continue the injections for more 

 than a month, and after three months there should be small 

 risk in putting the cow to the bull, provided she is afterwards 

 protected against fresh infection. 



Removal and Disposal of Animals which have Aborted.— 

 It is quite a prevalent custom to feed for the butcher cows 

 which have aborted. It is also customary to sell such cows 



