Abortion in Cows. 
505 
nant disease, and that may with great safety be predicted to be 
of the tubercular character. 
Treatment. — Promptly isolate all cows that have aborted, or 
in which the premonitory symptoms of it are observed. Destroy 
the aborted calf, membranes, and discharges ; do not bury them 
in a manure-heap, or in any place to which cattle have access, 
but in some place where they cannot possibly do any harm. 
Disinfect the place where the abortion occurred, and the cow in 
ber seclusion ; this must be continued for some time. Have 
the floor, bedding, manure, and air saturated with the dis- 
infectant, and if no recognised disinfectant is at hand, use 
■quick-lime freely. If possible, find out the cause of the abor- 
tion ; if successful, take immediate measures to prevent further 
mischief. Keep the patient on light sloppy food, attend to 
her general health and the condition of her bowels. 
If the uterine discharges are copious and offensive, or the 
membranes are attached, wash out the vagina with tepid water, 
containing Sanitas or Condy's fluid. This is best effected with 
the aid of an enema funnel, and may be done once or twice a 
day, gradually leaving it off as the case progresses towards 
recovery. Above all things do not attempt to serve the cow 
again until you are sure she is perfectly clean and coming 
regular to her three weeks : it is wise even then to miss her for 
a time or two. Attention to this is most important, for not only 
is the cow likely to be damaged by too-early service, but the 
bull also may be contaminated. Give no cake until the cow is 
again safely settled in calf. 
If the diseased condition of the uterus does not show early 
signs of abatement, the disinfectant wash may with advantage 
be replaced by one containing alum, tannic acid, or sulphate of 
zinc. The two former are safe agents to use, the latter requires 
care. Should the disease still continue and the cow become 
what is known as a buller, get rid of her as soon as possible. I 
have experimentally treated and carefully watched some of these 
cases from their beginning to their end in the slaughter-house, 
and with no good results ; they set at defiance all treatment, 
and, the malignant disease found, post mortem explains why 
they do so. 
If kept on to try treatment, they must be strictly isolated ; but 
the best and only satisfactory plan is to cast them from the herd. 
There should be no hesitation about this, and if there are 
grounds to believe that the bull is at fault, either originally or 
by infection, the sooner he is replaced by another one the 
better. 
Recommendations. — All breeding animals should be kept in 
as natural a condition as possible. The food should be good in 
VOL. XXI.— S. S. 2 L 
