Abortion in Cattle. 
739 
Distilled water 20 litres, or about 20 pints 
SSoUof the sp;cific gravity of " ^ °™ 
Bichloride of mercury , . . .10 grammes, „ 2^ drachms 
Finally, lie says that, in the case of an abortingcow, it is neces- 
lary to isolate her immediately, and to deliver her at once with 
Ihe hand, destroying by fire or by boiling-water the foetus which 
js delivered. 
In reference to his latest method, which is the result of 
■urther experience, M. Nocard observes : — 
I have considerably simplified my methods. I have completely sup- 
pressed the vaginal and uterine injections, which provoke expulsive efforts. 
\Iy experience, already great, has taught me that a beast which has once 
aborted will abort again or remain sterile. The best course is to isolate the 
mimal immediately after the abortion, and to fatten her for the butcher. 
The practical prophylaxis is reduced to a very simple method : — 
1 . The weekly disinfection of the cow-stall and drains behind the cows 
\ ith a solution of sulphate of copper, phenic acid, — i.e., carbolic acid, or cor- 
i-!\e sublimate. 
A daily washing, by means of a sponge saturated with the solution of 
i ioiive sublimate of the anus, the vulva, the perinseum, and the taU. The 
prescription used for this purpose b as follows : — 
Rain water . . i t • t 10 litres, or about 10 pints 
Corrosive sublimate . . , .10 grammes, „ 2^ drachms 
Hydrochloric acid . . « . ^ decilitre, „ li ounce. 
His final remarks are — 
As you will perceive, the procedure is very simple. It only requires 
care, exactitude, and perseverance. In reality it is useless to hope to see 
abortion cease immediately. During the first year it will be less serious ; 
but it will show itself still, for all cows which are infected at the moment 
when the treatment is commenced will abort, almost as a certainty. But all 
will cease as by enchantment from the second year, for this treatment 
exactly followed prevents all new infection. The whole thing is essentially 
an affair of patience. 
This is the statement of a practical man ; so that there is a 
method, it seems, by which it is possible to check the progress 
of the malady, even in its worst epizootic form, by proper dis- 
infection of a simple kind, not demanding any great trouble or 
scientific skill. 
The latest authorities are Dr. Sims Woodhead, Professor 
Macfadyean, and Dr. A. P. Aitken, who conducted an inquiry 
in Edinburgh in 1887. They commenced by sending out a 
number of questions for the purpose of obtaining information as 
to the general treatment of the cows in which abortion was 
going on ; aod they reported that— 
8 c 2 
