444 
Abortion in Cows. 
variance with that of the before-mentioned writer in the three 
agents named, as it is with the public generally as regards 
infection. 
The water in this district is almost universally obtained from 
streams (which have not been polluted) and springs ; the 
stagnant odoriferous ponds of some parts being practically 
unknown here. 
The liulls will, I think, be exonerated after reading the 
several cases I have recorded. 
Whilst ergot has not been "innocently blamed," in this district 
at least, from the simple fact that none of my informants ever 
heard of it previous to my enquiries, though a few, when shown 
their grasses infested with it, remarked they had seen it, but 
did not know what it was. 
Of infection I shall have plenty to say further on, merely 
remarking that I shall give equal prominence to all cir- 
cumstances which appeared to favour that theory, as to the 
reverse. 
I will now give extracts of my notes of each local outbreak, 
in the order they have been taken, not as they actually occurred. 
Wherever the term " shed " is used in this article, it is intended 
to mean a building in which cows are kept ; " stalls," represent 
the compartments in the shed, in which are usually two cows, 
the partitions being about 4 feet in height and 6 in length ; 
" stand," refers to the place in which each animal is fastened. 
Farm 1. — ^Mr. T. H.'s. In 1883 kept about 26 milking-cows, but has since 
gradually given up the milking business. 
In May of that year he turned out six in-calvers into a field, not in his 
own occupation, about a mile and a half from his farm. 
No abortions having previously taken place (so far as known), either on 
his farm or in this field, nor were there at that time any in the immediate 
neighbourhood. 
The first week in July one of the six aborted (about 7 months gone), a 
fortnight later a second did so, at about 8 months; and finally five of them 
were similarly afi'ected. The first three cases were immediately isolated by 
removal to a shed for some days, and then to a pasture, both being some 
distance from his main herd. The two later cases were not removed, but 
remained with the one which went her full time. 
Early in August one of the cows kept at home aborted, and from that time 
till the first week in May, 1884, no cow carried her calf the full period ; about 
20 in all aborted, a few when out, but the majority when kept up. Isolation 
was attempted at first, but afterwards became impracticable. 
The first week in May he substituted purchased hay for his own and gave 
it to his cows. From that time, and without any other known change 
in their food or surroundings, bis remaining in-calvers carried their calves to 
the full period, in company with those that had aborted. 
In the autumn of 1885 I examined Mr. H.'s pastures and found ergot in all 
of them, especially so in a four-acre field, the most recently sown down ; tliis 
field was mown in 1882 or 1883, late, the hay from which might have been a 
contributor to the severe loss of 1883 and 1884. These cows were served by 
