186 Annual Report of the Royal Veterinary College on 
at grass the supply was drawn from a small lake in one case, and from ponds 
fed by surface-drainage and springs in the others. It was ascertained that 
the mishap was not confined to animals at pasture, but also occurred to 
others while housed in sheds, which were planned and constructed with 
strict regard to sanitation. The management of the herd was in every 
respect as good as it could be made. Cows of all ages suffered from the 
disorder : but in this, as in most other outbreaks of this kind, the greater 
number of cases occurred in the younger beasts. 
Referring to the influence of the sire in the production of abortion, it 
is interesting to notice that, in the eight years under consideration, 11 bulls 
were used in the herd. During this period 130 cows became pregnant, and 
26 (20 per cent.) aborted. Looking at the number of cows served by each 
bull, it appears that of the 23 served by No. 4, 12, or over 50 per cent., 
slipped their calves, while of the remaining 113 cows only 9 per cent, of 
abortions remain, to be divided among five bulls, Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 0. Com- 
paring one year with another, the greatest mortality appears to have prevailed 
in 1883, when, out of 15 pregnant cows, all of which were served by bull x\o. 4, 
10 parted with their offspring prematurely. 
In 1883 the same bull served 6 out of 11 cows which became pregnant. 
In this year three abortions took place, and of these two were credited to 
him. In 1884 two cows were served by bull No. 4, find neither of them 
aborted, while of twelve others sired by two bulls, Nos. 7 and 9 respectively, 
two aborted. 
From these facts it appears that abortion has followed the services of a 
particular bull with remarkable frequency, so much so as to raise a strong 
primd-faeie case against this animal as a possible cause of the mishap. 
Numerous cases of actinomycosis were met with during the- 
year, and in some cases the disease was found to be associated with 
general tuberculosis. Actinomycosis is very prevalent in certain 
localities in this country, being constantly found in all the fen dis- 
tricts and in river- valleys. There seems to be little doubt that it 
has a wide geographical distribution. A short time since, in a cargo 
of American cattle, 40 oxen were found to be affected with the 
disease in an advanced form, and in some of them the tumours 
(wens), immediately behind the angle of the lower jaw, were of 
enormous size. 
A peculiar and fatal disease among cows, in a dairy farm in 
Staffordshire, was investigated recently, and the inquiry is still 
going on. The history of the case is as follows : — 
With the exception of two cases last summer, the disease had only 
occurred during the ivintcr months, when the cows were up in the sheds, and, 
with but few exceptions, all the animals attacked had died. The few cases 
which recovered were mostly those of animals purchased, aud not bred on tbe 
farm. 
At the time of this inquiry (July 27, 1889) all the animals on the 
farm were healthy and in good, thriving condition, so that no opportunity 
was all'orded of seeing any of the symptoms of the disease. The food during 
the winter consisted of hay, grains from the Burton breweries, as well -as 
cake and meal. 
It was suggested t lint , should the outbreak again occur, it would be 
desirable to have a further investigation of the matter, when an animal 
affected with the disease coul 1 be seen and examined. 
On October 23, 1^89, another visit was made to the farm, information 
