Abortion in Cows. 
501 
small piece of sticky, unnatural, pus-like discharge, or it may 
be a little blood adhering to the vulva, is all that is seen ; but to 
the experienced eye it is enough to cause immediate attention 
and extra care. This symptom is readily detected in winter, 
when cows are mostly in the house ; but when at grass, it often 
happens that the first notice we have that an abortion has taken 
place, is that the cow is in use, and this time more keenly than 
usual. In these cases the ovum or foetus is so small, that it is 
seldom found, and oestrum follows abortion quickly ; the time is 
measured by days, not weeks. Hence the great importance of 
detecting the early premonitory symptoms, so that isolation 
may be effected. In the more advanced stages of gestation the 
symptoms are well marked and easily recognised. There is 
more or less general disturbance in health ; the cow is restless, 
often lying down ; the udder becomes warmer and enlarged ; the 
pelvic ligaments and vulva are relaxed ; there is a discharge 
from the vagina, and straining calving pains. 
If these occasional cases are quickly observed and efficiently 
isolated, — the aborted foetus, membranes, and discharges 
promptly and carefully destroyed, — a thorough system of disin- 
fection carried out, — and the cow only restored to cohabitation 
with her companions when she is in a perfectly clean and 
natural breeding condition, — the probabilities are that there 
will be no more trouble. On the other hand, if these precautions 
are neglected, more cases are likely to occur, and the diseased 
condition may even spread through the whole herd. Before 
leaving these cases, I wish to impress the importance of not 
again serving cows that have aborted until the uterus and vagina 
have regained their natural healthy condition ; and even after 
the cow is coming regularly to her three weeks, it is better to 
be in no hurry to serve her. 
Enzootic Abortion. 
It is often most difficult to trace out the original cause of the 
extensive outbreaks of enzootic abortion. Neglected isolated 
cases account for some, and many are due to one common cause, 
in which group impure water has much to answer for. The 
importance of pure, and the injurious effects produced by 
impure, water has long occupied the attention of pathologists, 
and when we find that over 50 per cent, of the body weight, 
and 83 per cent, of the blood (' Power's Physiology '), consists 
of water, we can easily understand that pure water is essential 
to health and healthy functions. Water supplied for domestic 
purposes is carefully guarded against contamination ; but any 
stream, pond, or pump, however polluted, is thought by some 
to be good enough for cows to drink. Fluids taken into the 
system are rapidly absorbed, and, according to their different 
