Abortion in Cotes. 
445 
three bulls belonging to different owners, none of whom had other cows 
abort. 
From May 1884 to Dec. 1885 all the cows went their full time. At the 
latter date Mr. H. had reduced his milking stock to four, which were in one 
shed, as under : — 
On Dec. 17th, an Alderney aborted after three weeks' premonitory 
symptoms. 
On Jan. 5th, 1886, the cow standing next to her aborted. I then advised 
that the remaining two should not be turned out for the usual hour or two's 
grazing, knowing ergot to be present in the pasture ; they went their full 
time. Total number of abortions, 29. 
Plan of Mr. T. H.'s Shed, taken January 7, 1886. 
7. 
6. 
5. 4. 
3. 
2. 
1. 
leifer fat- 
In-calf heifer, 
Empty. Empty. 
Cow in-calf due 
Alderney abor- 
Cow aborted at 
tening. 
due in May. 
late in Jan. 
ted at 7 
7 months ou 
Calved in 
Two in-calvers, sold in Oct. 
Calved at 
months on 
Jan. 5, 1886. 
May at full 
just at calving, stood here 
full time. 
Dec. 17,1885. 
Premonitory 
time. Not 
previously. They went their 
Jan. 31, 1886. 
Premonitory 
symptoms 3 
allowed out 
full time. 
Not allowed 
symptoms 3 
days, Calf 
after Jan. 5. 
out after 
weeks.. Calf 
dead, but 
Jan. 5. 
putrid. Not 
fresh. Not 
removed. 
removed. 
7. 
6. 
5. 4. 
3. 
2. 
1. 
Farm 2. — Mr. S. B. keeps about 12 milch cows. In June or July 1882, 
one aborteJ, two more did likewise at intervals during 1883 and 1884; they 
were 7iot separated from the rest of the herd. 
He makes a rule of taking his cows up the week after Martinmas ; they 
are not allowed out again except to drink (in the yard) till late in spring. 
In Dec. 1884, a few weeks after being taken up, a cow aborted. From that 
time till the end of March, 1885, none calved at their full time, eight in the 
meantime casting their calves from half time up to within six weeks of the 
full period. 
The first week in April, all his hay being consumed, he purchased some. 
From that time the abortions ceased, his remaining three in-calvers carried 
their calves the full period, and brought forth living healthy calves ; no change 
whatever being made in their food or surroundings, except the forced 
substitution of purchased hay. Two calved before being turned out with 
animals which had aborted on either side of them, and the third soon after 
being turned out. 
This case well illustrates how absolutely and exclusively the belief in the 
infectiousness of this malady is held by the farmers of this district. For, ou 
putting the usual question to him after he had stated the above facts, " What 
do you consider to be the cause of this malady ? " his reply was " smittle " 
(infection). 
Ergot was found abundantly in the pastures, and some of his own hay was 
made very late. Used his own bull for all his cows, which also served a few 
other cows, none of which aborted. 
On Dec. 12th, 1885, a cow unknown to be in-calf, which was being 
fattened, aborted at about half time. I took a plan of the shed in Jan. 
1886, to more accurately mark the progress of the malady ; but tbrtunately 
it has made no further progress. Seven of the aborting animals, and two 
which went their full time, were in this shed in the winter of 1884 and 1885. 
Mr. B. is unable to give the exact positions of the latter, though he is sure 
they were not standing next to each other. 
