Feb. 2, 1903.] 
Supplement to the " Troincal AgricuUmist 
m 
it into the genital passages of a pregnant cow, 
and in nearly every case the cow will abort sottse 
time afterward. I also believe that this bacillus 
is able to multiply outside the animal body, even 
in soil, dirt, or manure, and this may go a great 
length to demonstrate the first outbreak in a herd 
that was previously free from this disease, and 
it is sometimes very difficult to know where the 
contagion comes from iu the first case in a herd 
of cows. But in reality it comes from some 
source, from an apparently healthy, newly bought 
cow, or from tlie land they are grazing on having 
been previously grazed by some infected cow; or 
from feeding stuff or fodder imported or brought to 
the byre from an infected place. There is always 
a cause for everything that happens in this life. 
This bacillus is supposed to gain an entrance by 
the vulva into the womb, or become absorbed 
tlirough the mucous lining of the vulva into the 
circulation (because abortion can be produced 
by injecting the bacillus hypodermically ), it then 
gets into the circulation, locates itself in its 
habitat, so to speak, and sets up the symptoms 
that we see terminate in the expulsion of the 
fcetus and membranes prematurely. 
Causes. — The primary cause is of course the 
bacillus. How does it get there? It is some- 
times due to an infected bull, during copulation. 
Sometimes to a newly purchased cow brought 
from a tainted herd ; this will bring it into a byre 
that was never known to have a previous case, 
and generally when one cow aborts there are 
several if not all iu the same houses One reason 
given for this is the contagious nature of the 
disease, and if a cow retains the after-birth there 
is always a discharge of infective material, and 
this soils the tail and thighs, and by means of the 
tail the infective material is switched about to 
the other cows in the same house. It may also 
be disseminated by the discharges into the gutters 
running past the other cows. By inserting infec- 
tive material into the genital passages of a 
healthy pregnant cow, you will generally have 
abortion in form fifteen to thirty days. As a rule 
the cow's health is not much affected ; it is 
purely and simply a disease of an infective nature 
that affects the vagina and womb, fcetus and fostal 
membranes of pregnant cows, mares, and ewes. 
Preoention and Treatment. — I intend to malce 
this as short as possible. To consider measures 
of prevention we must think about what will 
keep stock in health as v.ell as the measures 
that are necessary to bring an outbreak to a 
sj eedy termination. With regard to the former, 
every person that buys a cow, is exposed to 
getting his herd infected. When buying a new 
cow, isolation for a period is a safe plan. On 
buying a new stud bull isolate for a time, and 
disinfect penis and genitals for some time before 
using him for stvid purposes. There is a big risk 
in keeping a bull for the service of outside cows : 
he should be disinfected and washed after each 
service. 
To bring an outbreak of this di.-ease to a speedy 
end there are a great many difficulties which 
present themselves to us. The first is that for 
weeks, and probably for months, a cow may be 
affected, and capable of infecting other cows 
without presenting any symptoms pointing to her 
dangerous state. It, therefore, often happens that 
before the existence of the disease in the herd is 
suspected and realized a lot of the cows have 
become affected. A cow is infected before she 
has aborted, but she is more dangerous after and 
for several weeks, as she then liberates an army 
of bacilli capable of infecting all the other cows 
in the herd. When she aborts, it is a good plan 
to burn the fcetus and membranes; if this can't 
be done bury them away from access to cows, 
and disinfect them before burial, and over the 
grave put some quicklime. 
The cow-house will require to be disinfected 
often and thoroughly, and the cows therein wiU 
also require to liave the vagina washed out and 
tail and thighs, udder, and even up the sides, 
over the back, kc, in fact as fur up as the tail 
reaches, well sponged or brushed with a reliable 
antiseptic to destroy the bacilli, and the more 
thoroughly and frequently this is done the better 
chance of eradicating the disease. There are 
various agents that may be used for this purpose ; 
some taint the milk and are not practicable. 
Sulphate of copper is good to use and does not 
taint the milk — six ounces to one gallon soft water, 
also sprinkle the floor and gangway with 
powdered lime ; and as a further precaution the 
outer genitals, root of tail, and in fact the whole 
tail, it is well to sponge once a day with a solution 
of Jeyes' carbolic, or hydrarg. perchlor. 
Ijt Ilyd. perchlor. jiiss- 
Acid hydrochlor. siiss. 
Aqua Cii. 2 gallons. 
This solution is dangerous, and any of it that 
is left should be buried, and it can't be prepared 
in metallic vessels, for it corrodes them. This 
disease in its treatment involves a great deal of 
trouble and labour. When the number of the cows 
that have aborted is mariy aad there is no chance 
of isolating them, the best plan is to put the 
aborted cows at the lower end of the house, so 
that the urine does not run past the healthy ones ; 
this will reduce the risk of infection. If a cow 
aborts this year it does not follow that she will 
abort next year; in fact, experience shows that 
it is the exception, not the rule. 
In regard to the manure, is it not possible that 
the abortion bacillus will retain its vitality for a 
length of time in it ? 1 would recommend in this 
case that the manure be mixed with a sufliciency 
of lime ar.d left for a good long time before being 
put on to land tliat cows will be grazed on after- 
wards. I must say that wooden cow-houses, 
when they get rotten, and without paved gutters, 
the want of cleanliness, houses badly lighted, 
badly ventilated, badly drained, anci in some 
cases not drained at all, all militate against the Y.S. 
in stamping-out any contagious disease iu this 
country. 
I>r\'ERSIOX OF THE UTERUS. 
This is a very serious condition in anj' female 
animal. 
Causes. — detention of fcetal membranes, irrita- 
tion of mucous membranes of the organ at the 
time of parturition, wound?, scraps, hard calving, 
injuries during calving, over-feeding, tympany, 
indigestion, icy cold water to drink after calving. 
