504 
Abortion in Cows. 
blamed — blamed because the true cause was not discovered; 
and further, that instead of being a frequent cause of abortion, 
it is an exceedingly rare one. 
The causes in operation to produce abortion, although 
numerous, will, when the subject is better understood, be found 
much less mysterious than they are now generally believed to 
be. It has been too much the custom to look for special and 
unusual causes, neglecting and ignoring the vital importance of 
apparently small, but important details of every-day manage- 
ment ; errors in which, such as improper food, impure water, 
unsanitary surroundings, want of care and observation in 
mating, and the effects of certain diseases, will be found amply 
sufficient to account for most cases, and that a centre once 
established, the disease, unless great care is observed, may 
become general in a herd. Further, that abortion, however 
caused, leaves the uterus in an irritable weakened condition, 
disposed to repeat the diseased action ; and that, unless a long 
rest is given to it, all our efforts to arrest the disease will be 
fruitless. 
Is it infectious? — The general impression amongst breeders 
is that it is so, but there are a few observers who deny this. 
Whilst admitting that many cases occur that are traceable to 
accidents, disease, and dietetic errors, there can, in my opinion, 
be no doubt that the disease is capable of being spread by 
sympathy, by smell, and by mediate contact, the bull acting as 
the carrier from cow to cow. I therefore look upon it as 
infectious, and treat it accordingly. 
After-consequences. — Abortion once established in a herd, it 
is almost impossible to say what the ultimate results may be. 
When its appearance is general and almost simultaneous in a 
herd, as when caused by impure water, but which is at once 
detected and remedied, the cows, if rested, not served until the 
uterus has perfectly recovered its healthy tone, will as a rule, 
when free from tubercular disease, breed again ; but ^if the 
cause remains undetected and continued, or disease is set up 
in the generative organs, the results become disastrous. In 
addition to loss of calves and keep of herd, there will be a new 
bull or bulls to buy, and many of the cows will never breed 
again ; they are rendered useless except to the butcher. The 
non-breeding depends upon the diseased condition of the uterus 
and vagina ; the former is primarily affected, but the latter soon 
takes on diseased action. This is shown by irregular and 
frequent oestrum, accompanied by abnormal discharges. The 
uterus may simply be in an excited condition, which is often 
set up by improper service — service too soon after either calving 
or abortion — but the majority of these cases are due to malig- 
