Abortion in Cows. 
503 
The disease was spread through the herd, and, although all were 
treated and apparently cured, non-breeding and abortion were 
continued and general. From this it would appear that this 
disease, fortunately very rare in animals, leaves a taint behind, 
which prevents the maturing of the ovum or the fcetus. Many 
believe, and I agree with them, that abortion may be spread by 
sympathetic action, set up by the act of abortion taking place 
in a herd, and by the smell given off by the materials and pro- 
ducts of abortion. Cases are quoted in which premature birth 
has been brought on suddenly by the natural act of parturition 
occurring amongst in-calf cows. Such cases are evidently due to 
sympathetic impulse, and point to the advisability of isolating 
cows when about to calve, and also, that if the natural act of 
parturition can produce such effects, the unnatural diseased act 
of abortion is likely to be followed by similar results. 
Cows are exceedingly sympathetic and inquisitive, they care- 
fully smell and touch objects with which they are not familiar ; 
they have great aptitude for finding decomposing putrid matter 
that may be lying about pastures ; and if found by one, the re- 
mainder of the herd are quickly drawn to the spot. Uterine 
discharges have particular attractions, and excite in cows a 
special and uniform action, bulling. This imitation of the male 
act of copulation by the female is, so far as my observations go, 
peculiar to cows ; and, taken with the fact that uterine discharges 
under certain conditions become infective and poisonous, 
capable of spreading special and even fatal diseases, it is not a 
great stretch of imagination to believe that the products of 
abortion give off a germ or scent which, under favourable cir- 
cumstances, is capable of reproducing the disease. This view is 
held by some continental and American veterinarians, who 
believe that abortion is caused by a special germ, a micro- 
organism which may be introduced into the system by food — 
into the lungs by the dust that rises and floats in the air, or into 
the uterus by way of the vagina. I question if this is so, but 
I can easily understand that abortion may be, and is, caused 
by septic putrefactive germs, germs which we know are 
capable of producing serious and fatal diseases, and diseases 
which are preventable by the adoption of antiseptic measures. 
The idea that abortion is spread by smell is evidently an old 
one — as shown by the keeping of goats in some herds, and the 
use of tar in others. 
A frequent cause blamed is ergotised grass, and, knowing 
the medicinal properties of ergot, this is natural. I confess 
that I have no personal experience of this cause, nor can I get 
any direct and conclusive evidence respecting it. My investi- 
gations, however, lead me to believe that it is often innocently 
