656 TRANSLATIONS FROM THE CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 
but for the development of the foetus. In sheep, abortion 
has manifested itself only in one flock, it was in January 
and February. The animals were in good condition, and 
though well fed, they had had given them for more than a 
week a quantity of unthrashed rye, to promote the sebaceous 
secretion of the skin, with a view to facilitate their being 
shorn. In the belief that the abortion was to be attributed 
to this addition to the ordinary diet (more particularly as 
the rye is to be viewed with suspicion, on account of 
the ergot which might possibly be contained in it, which 
is well known as a frequent cause of abortion), this diet was 
at once discontinued, and other sanitary measures adopted ; 
but notwithstanding this change, the abortion continued to 
prevail. It occurred either a few days before the time of 
parturition, or at the latter period of utero-gestation. The 
lambs which were completely developed were either expelled 
dead from the uterus, and sometimes in a state of putrefaction, 
or if alive, they soon died from weakness. Some of the ewes 
fell a sacrifice, being unable to expel the dead lambs. The 
principal symptoms, as we observed them, were lying down ; 
loss of appetite ; uneasiness ; a continual shifting of position ; 
inversion of the vagina, which was swelled and inflamed ; and 
tumefaction of the vulva. The mammae were dry and hot, 
and no milk could be drawn from the teats. This state of 
the glands continued from seven to eight days. It was easily 
cured by emollients, &c. The autopsy, which was made in 
the cases, showed a great number of flukes in the liver, 
which was likewise considerably disorganized in its paren- 
chymatous structure. There were also present many hydatids 
on the outer surface of this organ, known as the echinococci. 
The digestive organs were healthy, with the exception of 
some slight traces of phlogosis. The other abdominal viscera, 
as the spleen and the kidneys, were in a normal condition, as 
were also the lungs and heart. The uterus, which was con- 
tracted, was red and congested, leaving no doubt of the 
existence of metritis, but without any indication of gangrene. 
The same traces of inflammation were found in the vagina. 
These facts left no doubt as to the cause of abortion being 
cachexia, aquosis , which in our opinion had resulted from the 
verminous condition of the liver. In all cases of cachexia 
parturition is exceedingly difficult, and many animals 
succumb to it. Inversion of the uterus is also frequent and 
troublesome as one of its complications. The milk also in 
those that survive is watery, containing very little nutriment 
for the young animals, which are weak and debilitated, and 
often die when young, or if they survive, are of small size and 
nearly valueless. 
