74 



On Abortion in Cows. 



imperceptibly diminishes in size, the quantity of milk is not 

 lessened, the general health of the animal continues good, and 

 after a time she even shows a disposition to fatten ; it will also 

 be observed that she is never in heat, and that the external 

 organs of generation become small and firm. Here, death of the 

 foetus has taken place, but its expulsion has been prevented, 

 most likely by want of sufficient dilation of the uterine neck, or 

 by a deficiency of tone in the uterus itself We have known 

 instances of this kind, in which the foetus has been retained fifteen 

 and eighteen monihs after the parent had connection with the 

 male, and was only detected in the uterus when the cow was 

 slaughtered, after being fattened. The foetus under these cir- 

 cumstances is so much altered in external appearance, as to pre- 

 sent little resemblance to its natural form, and its internal struc- 

 tures become converted into a dry brownish mass, commonly 

 possessing but little smell. These changes appear to be natural 

 provisions made to effect such an alteration in the dead foetus as 

 will allow its retention in the uterus with the least inconvenience 

 and injury to the constitution of the parent. In some other in- 

 stances, when the premonitory symptoms of abortion are not 

 followed by expulsion, there will be a recurrence of temporary 

 fits of straining for weeks and even months, accompanied by a 

 continued discharge of varying colour and consistence ; this oc- 

 casionally contains foetal bones or portions of them ; the larger 

 and heavier bones are retained for a considerable period, being 

 sometimes found in the uterus on slaughtering the cow after she 

 has been fed. 



Causes of Abortion. 



The causes of abortion are various ; but, from extended ob- 

 servation and inquiry into their operation, and in order to gene- 

 ralize their consideration, we propose to consider them under 

 three heads : — 



I. Causes which act directly upon the fcetus, its membranes , 

 or the uterus itself. 

 II. Causes of a constitutional character. 



III. Causes which^ influencing the system or a part of it, operate 

 through it upon the uterus. 



I. Causes which act directly upon the foetus^ its membranes, or 

 the uterus itself — These may also for the most part be considered 

 mechanical causes, consisting, as they chiefly do, in injuries in- 

 flicted on the foetus or the organs containing it. A cow, for in- 

 stance, which has been severely gored by another cow, or if she 

 has been running or leaping violently, or subjected to any other 

 severe exertion to which she is unaccustomed, is very liable to cast 



