454 
Abortion in Cows. 
Seven or eight years ago he had 7 cows abort in the winter, and the same 
number the following winter ; none are remembered to have done so during 
the summer. 
Isolation was not practised. Cases occurred, and cows went their full time 
in all the sheds. Nearly all were put to the bull again, most of them breeding ; 
as far as can be recollected, no cow aborted a second time. 
The cows do not graze on any land that has been laid down within twenty 
years ; two fields were sown down eight or nine years ago, one of which has 
been made into hay every year, the other only for the past two seasons. 
His own bull was used, which also served his neighbour's cows, none of 
which suffered, except on Farm 4, where three bulls were used that season, 
and each had cases of abortion. 
Total number, 14. 
Farm 13. — Mr. R. C.'s. Usual number of milking-cows kept, 10 ; but he 
deals in milch kine. They are kept in three buildings. 
In Jan. or Feb., 1884, two cows from the same building aborted within a 
week of each other ; each was isolated immediately, and the rest went full 
time. 
About the same time in 1885 two more aborted within a week of each other. 
Mr. E. C. thinks they were in different sheds. 
In June, when the cows were out, two aborted on successive days, and 
others have done so in each month up to September, the last one being one of 
those that had been similarly affected in the winter, and the only one put to 
the bull after such an occurrence. I heard that Mr. R. C.'s cows were affected, 
and went to take his case on Nov. 25th, but he was not at home. I then 
asked a lad to show me the pastures in which the cows had been during the 
summer. I found he had two, one in a westerly, the other in a southerly 
direction, each being formed of four or five fields, practically allowed to run 
into one. In the westerly pasture I found a little ergot in one field only ; 
in the southerly pasture three of the fields contained a large amount of ergot 
in each. When taking his case on Dec. 2nd, I mentioned this to him: he 
immediately said, " I keep my cows in two lots, one consisting of milkers, 
the other of those that are dry and in-calf heifers. I have had none of the 
latter abort ; they have been in the westerly pasture. The milkers have been 
in the southerly pasture; several of them have aborted, and some have gone 
their full time." 
For a certain distance these pastures were separated by a feijce only. 
Isolation is always practised immediately after the occurrence. 
The bull used belonged to a neighbour; he served his owner's and other 
neighbour's cows, none of which aborted. 
Total number, 10 or 12.* 
Farm 14. — Mr. K.'s. Mr. K. keeps about 10 cows; be came to this farm 
in April, 1882. In the same month a cow belonging to the previous tenant 
aborted ; a second and third did so in Feb. 1885, a fourth in March 1885, and 
a fifth in Jan. 1886. These cows have been frequently moved, so that a plan 
of their sheds would not be intelligible. No isolation was used ; the cows 
went their time and aborted in close proximity. The previous owner and 
occupier (now dead) had abortions rather frequently amongst his cows ; but 
an accurate number is not ascertainable. 
Ergot sparsely found. 
Total number, 5. 
* Examined these pastures on September Cth, 188C. lu those parts where 
ergot was so abundant last year there was scarcely a specimen to be found, grass 
not being very plentiful. 
