76 



On Ahortion in Cows, 



ditions in the same animal, as well as it does in different animals, 

 and that all cases of apparent early abortion do not depend on 

 sexual deficiency in the female. In cases, however, where it is 

 known that the males are in themselves prolific, the oestrum will 

 still continue to recur in females having connection with them. 

 This is frequently seen in hot and very dry summer weather, and 

 appears in some way connected with it. It must be remembered 

 that at the period of oestrum there is an increased quantity of 

 blood determined to the ovaries, uterus, and, as is visibly seen, to 

 the vagina ; and by the animal in heat rambling about, or pro- 

 bably rearing on other cows, the excitability of these parts is so 

 additionally increased as to exercise on the male seed an influence 

 unfavourable to conception. The male, too, in many instances 

 in very hot weather, for various reasons, is sexually less compe- 

 tent than at some other times. The female sexual appetite is 

 most perfect and most regular in its periods of return during the 

 months of spring and earlier part of summer ; these seasons seem 

 to favour its development, and it frequently happens that cows 

 which calve in autumn or winter do not take bull until the follow- 

 ing spring. 



What is called "high breeding" also seems to induce such a 

 state of constitution in animals, as in course of time to predispose 

 them to abortion. One of the most eminent breeders of short- 

 horns in Scotland informs Mr. Cuming, a veterinary surgeon 

 residing in his vicinity, that when he has got a section of his 

 stock brought to a high pitch of perfection as regards feeding or 

 milking properties, the animals are almost sure to cease breeding, 

 either by not taking the bull at all, or by aborting, most com- 

 monly by the two conditions combined. He adds also that the 

 best preventive he has found is to work the animals in plough or 

 harrows like oxen. This is a very instructive fact, and seems, so 

 far as it goes, to confirm the opinion that when the art of breed- 

 ing has been pushed to such a successful extent as to produce 

 animals of great perfection, nature seems to set limits to their 

 further propagation. Subjecting animals to labour as above 

 stated may act favourably on the procreative powers by operating 

 as a kind of tax or counterforce on the extremely artificial state oi 

 constitution induced by high breeding. It is always easier to 

 breed from inferior animals of all kinds, than from those of a 

 superior class, and their periods of gestation, as well as of partu- 

 rition, are passed through with less danger to mother and off- 

 spring than is the case in those more highly bred. Thus, we 

 not unfrequently see a very perfect cow or a number of cows put 

 to an equally perfect bull, and are disappointed to find that preg- 

 nancy does not follow. In such cases, as these certain " points 

 and " qualities/^ as they are termed, already exist in such a state 



