Report of the Special Committee on Abortion in Cattle. 313 
History of Abortion. 
3 . That the disease of abortion in some form was known to the 
ancients is apparent from the references which are made to a “ cast 
calf” in Exodus, and in the Book of Job. 1 
Abortion is defined to be a premature expulsion of the embryo 
or foetus before development has advanced to a sufficient extent to 
render the animal capable of living when separated from the 
mother. 
In an article on Abortion, in the Second Volume, Third Series, 
Part 4, of the Society’s Journal (1891), the periods of viability in 
different animals are given in the following table : — 
Animal 
Period of gestation 
Viability at 
Foal .... 
11-12 months 
1 0 months 
Calf .... 
9-10 „ 
7 
Lamb and kid 
5 „ 
4 
Pig ... • 
4 
3 
Puppy 
9 weeks 
7 weeks 
Kitten 
55 days 
45 days 
Rabbit 
25 „ 
20 „ 
4 . There appears to be evidence that abortion is more common 
in the domesticated races than among wild animals. In an article 
written for the Society’s Journal by Mr. Barlow in 1851, it is said, 
“ From various inquiries which have been made, and from the state- 
ments of travellers and other persons competent to speak on the 
subject, it seems that among the vast herds of wild cattle inhabiting 
large tracts of country in the Old and New Worlds, abortion is un- 
known.” 2 
One of the earliest writers, Clater, speaks, in 1786, of abortion as 
one of the curses of the breeder, and refers to some of its common 
causes. He also remarks on the fact that the disease sometimes 
assumes an epizootic character. 
Youatt, writing in 1834, remarks on the susceptibility of cows 
above that of other animals on the farm. He also refers to com- 
mon causes of abortion, such as climatic changes, certain kinds of 
food, and excitement ; and he gives the history of a case occurring 
in France, in which the whole circumstances suggested that the 
affection was of a contagious character. 
Monsieur Bouley, writing, in 1863, in his Dictionary of 
Veterinary Medicine , refers to abortion beginning with the intro- 
duction of a new cow. He also notes various common causes, 
and among these he mentions imitation, by which he means to 
imply that when abortion takes place in a herd, a number of preg- 
nant cows will quickly follow the example of the first. He also 
points out that when abortion takes place, cows in a herd become 
1 Job xxi. 10. 
2 R.A.S.E. Journal, Vol. XII., Part 1, 1st Series, 1851, p. 64. 
