Abortion in Coics. 
451 
I examined " Springfields," but probably from the bare- 
ness of the pastures I found only a small quantity of ergot, as 
I know they contained a large quantity last year. 
Farm 4. — Mr. D. B.'s. Mr. D. B. keeps about 13 milking-cows. In Sept. 
or Oct. 1881 one aborted, and during the winter seven more did so. In the 
following winter six were similarly affected, and one in May 1884 ; none since. 
Mr. D. B. states that he bred from all his cows, and, strange to say, those that 
aborted the first year did not do so the second, though most of the remainder 
did so. He adopted isolation at first; it proved ineffectual, and was not 
persevered in. 
He distinctly remembers in the first year two cows standing in the same 
stall served about the same time (he thinks by the same bull), one aborting, 
the other going full time ; a precisely similar circumstance occurred in the 
second year. The cows were served by three bulls belonging to neighbours ; 
no special blame could be attributed to any of them, as all had cases in this 
dairy. The owner of one had seven cows that aborted the first year, the 
other two had none. 
Ergot found in pastures. 
Total niunber, 15. 
Farm 5. — Mr. G. P.'s. Mr. P. keeps about 10 cows. About seven or 
eight years ago he had 17 cows abort in two successive seasons. In 1882, one 
aborted in Feb., a second in April, and two more during the summer. Most 
of these occurred so long since, that minute particulars cannot be obtained. 
Mr. P.'s cows were kept in three sheds, in all of which abortions took place, 
and the cows went their full time. Isolation was not practised, except in the 
first few cases. 
Total number, 21. 
Farm 6. — Mr. E.'s. I must apologise for inserting this case, as, though 
the malady is somewhat allied to that under consideration, it is not exactly 
of the same character. Mr. R.'s trouble is *-be difficulty he has in getting his 
cows to hold the bull, they, as a rule, requiring his services three and 
frequently more times, generally at the usual three-weekly interval, but 
sometimes at nine days. No aljortions take place after the cows have gone 
two months, but up to that time the symptoms are sometimes seen. Mr. R. 
keeps two bulls, an Ayrshire and a Shorthorn, and has sent his cows to 
neighbour's bulls without benefit. 
In the fifteen years he has been on the farm he has annually put one or 
two mares to the horse, with the result of three foals only. 
No pigs or sheep are kept. 
Ergot was not found on this farm. 
Drainage and water are good. 
If any of my readers can enlighten me as to the cause of this 
particular affection I shall esteem it a favour. 
Farm 7. — Mr. J. G.'s. Mr. G. keeps about 28 milch-cows. He has two 
farms, one at which he resides, where the cows that are in-milk are kept ; the 
other farm is two miles distant, where he keeps his heifers and cows not 
in-milk, and of late the animals from the home farm that have aborted. 
His home pasture is formed of four or five fields practically thrown into 
one, by taking off the gates and attending to the boundary fences only. One 
side is bounded by a plantation, under the shadow of which I found large 
quantities of ergot, especially on cocksfoot, and some on rye-grass under the 
hedges, the exposed parts being practically free. 
His meadows are at some distance from the pastiu'e, being separated by 
a road, house, farm-buildings, gardens, &c. 
