On Abortion in Cows. 



83 



If the liquor amnii has been partially evacuated, and the 

 animal, by arching her back and tail, by lying down and suddenly 

 rising again (as well as by exhibiting other usual symptoms), 

 seems actually in labour, the treatment just advised would not 

 only be useless, but highly injurious also. Matters in this case 

 must take their course, for it is only in the absence of the symp- 

 toms of immediate labour that bloodletting and the other means 

 recommended can be employed. 



If abortion take place at an early stage of gestation the premo- 

 nitory symptoms are rarely noticed, the foetus with its membranes 

 will be expelled without occasioning much inconvenience to the 

 cow, and oestrum will occur a few days afterwards. The animal, 

 however, should not be allowed access to the male, for her organs 

 of generation are in a state of morbid excitement, and connection 

 with the bull under such circumstances is seldom followed by 

 conception. The cow should be tied in the house until the 

 oestrum has disappeared, and should be carefully watched for its 

 next recurrence, which if taking place at the natural period, she 

 may be put to the bull and kept perfectly quiet a few days 

 longer. If a cow has irregular periods of oestrum, such as at 

 every ten days or a fortnight, she is almost always the subject of 

 some ovarian or uterine disease, and on no account should such 

 an animal be allowed to have connection with the male, or to be 

 in company with pregnant cows, or cows which are taking the 

 bull in ordinary regularity. Such beasts mostly go bellowing 

 about the pasture for days together, they gradually grow thick 

 and coarse in the head and neck, and their outer organs of gene- 

 ration lose much of the natural appearance ; they are hurtful 

 nuisances, and should be fed if they will feed, or disposed of in 

 some other way, being utterly worthless for breeding purposes. 



When the oestrum returns in a cow regularly every three weeks^ 

 and she takes the bull each period without conception following, 

 and we have reason to believe that no sexual deficiency exists in 

 the male, she may frequently be put under treatment which will 

 ensure pregnancy. She should not be allowed connection with 

 the male until the latter part of the period of heat, and after 

 taking the bull she should be bled freely, and confined several 

 days after oestrum has disappeared. During the time of being 

 kept up, a moderate amount of her usual food must be allowed ; 

 no medicine of any kind is needed, but, if the owner please, he 

 may from time to time throw a pailful of cold water on the hinder 

 parts of the animal, especially over the organs of generation. 

 No cow after taking the bull, and while still in heat, should be 

 allowed in pasture with other pregnant cows ; her society unsettles 

 them, and by smelling at her they receive impressions which act 

 injuriously. When an indisposition to conceive, or, as it is some- 



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