Report of the Special Committee on Abortion in Cattle. 315 
8. From the evidence given by several witnesses, it is evident 
that the idea of the disease being generally contagious and infectious 
is very widely spread. One witness was of opinion that any case of 
abortion, arising from any cause, was likely to become the centre of 
fresh outbreaks. 
9. On the subject of causes which would produce abortion there 
was a very considerable difference of opinion ; but the majority of 
the witnesses seemed to think that it might be caused by offensive 
odours, food in bad condition, especially in a putrid state, by the 
consumption of highly contaminated sewage water, by fright, and 
also from sympathy ; and it was generally agreed that the occurrence 
of a single case in a herd was likely to be followed by others. Other 
witnesses held the view that no importance whatever was to be 
attached to feeding, or the drinking of contaminated sewage water, 
and some announced their conviction that none of the alleged 
common causes exercised any material influence in the production 
of the disease. 
10. In reference to the geographical and geological distribution 
of the affection the majority of the witnesses had nothing whatever 
to say ; but the whole of the evidence appears to point to the 
conclusion that neither of these conditions is materially con- 
cerned in the development of the disease. One witness, however, 
alleged, as the result of his inquiries, that abortion was unknown, 
or extremely rare, in the hilly districts in Wales ; the same thing 
cannot be stated with regard to Scotland. 
11. Questions as to the influence exercised by particular bulls 
were asked of most of the witnesses ; and some of them were of 
opinion that, from the want of potency in the male, abortion very 
frequently occurred, apparently as the result of imperfect impregna- 
tion of the ovum. It was also considered by most of the witnesses 
that the use of a bull which had served a cow shortly after abortion 
was extremely dangerous. There were, however, several cases 
related in which this had occurred without any ill result fol- 
lowing. 
12. The effect of domestication was also a subject of inquiry ; 
and in ans%ver to questions, some witnesses considered that well-bred 
animals and those who were placed under highly artificial conditions 
were more liable to suffer than those which lived in a more natural 
state. This view, however, was combated by several others. 
13. Two or three witnesses gave evidence to the effect that the 
disease generally dies out without treatment in from two to four 
years. It may, however, be remarked that in a very large 
proportion of cases this satisfactory result does not occur. 
14. As to the disposal of cows after abortion, a number of 
witnesses stated their belief that it was very difficult to get them to 
settle to service. It was also alleged that it was desirable under any 
circumstances to allow several periods of oestrum to pass over before 
service again took place. Some witnesses went so far as to advise 
that several months should be allowed to elapse after the occurrence 
of abortion before the animal was again used for breeding. It was 
