314 Report of the Special Committee on Abortion in Cattle. 
extremely excited, running round thefcetus, and occasionally becoming 
what he describes as “ frantic.” These facts are well known to 
breeders at the present day. 
5. Dr. George Fleming, in his work on Veterinary Obstetrics, 
published in 1878, quotes the observations of different Continental 
experts, and remarks that Ziindel found that if septic bacteria are 
introduced into the vagina, abortion follows. Ten years later, 
Monsieur Nocard expressed his opinion that the disease was of a 
distinctly contagious character. Professor Axe, in 1885, refers to the 
theory of contagion, which he looks upon as insufficiently sustained 
by the evidence. ITe also gives an account in the Society’s Journal 
for 1885 of an extensive outbreak of abortion amongst ewes in 
Lincolnshire ; 1 and he considers the practice of feeding pregnant 
cows exclusively on unripe or watery roots, and especially on unwhole- 
some, filth-laden “ shells,” as among the principal causes of the 
disease ; but he adds to these causes, “ the pain induced by pro- 
tracted foot-rot, exposure to cold wind, and continuous heavy rains, 
and the exertion necessary to take the animals through the deep 
and sticky ground.” 
Mr. Clement Stephenson, F.R.C.V.S., in an article in the 
Society’s Journal in 1885, attaches considerable importance to 
sympathy, and also refers to other known causes. 2 
Dr. Johnson, of Kirkby Overblow, in Yorkshire, writing in the 
Society’s Journal in 1886, 3 advances a series of arguments, based on 
his own observations, in favour of the presumption that the disease 
arises from the consumption of ergoted grasses ; but he also remarks 
that the belief in the infectious nature of abortion is universal. 
6. In the Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society 
of Scotland for 1887 and 1889, there is a report from Dr. Sims 
Woodhead, Professor McFadyean, and Dr. A. P. Aitken, who 
conducted an inquiry into the subject in Edinburgh in 1887, 
commencing by sending out a circular letter of questions for the 
purpose of obtaining information. The inquiry proved that the 
disease was then prevalent throughout the length and breadth of 
Scotland, and there appears to be an opinion that it is yearly 
becoming more common. 
Results of Committee s Inquiries. 
7. The information obtained by the Committee leads to the con- 
clusion that abortion is also extensively prevalent in the greater part 
of England and Wales ; and from correspondence which has taken 
place, it is certain that it exists in several parts of Ireland, 
notably in the counties of Limerick and Cork, but chiefly in the 
latter county. An investigation of this district is being made by 
Mr. Prentice, the Veterinary Travelling Inspector attached to the 
Veterinary Department in Dublin. 
1 R.A.S.E. Journal , Vol. XXI., Part 1, 2nd Series. 1885, pp. 199-20G. 
2 Tbid., Vol. XXL, Part 2, 2nd Series, 1885 p. 499. 
3 Ibid., Vol. XXII., Part 2, 2nd Series, 1886, p. 462. 
