102 Contagious or Epizootic Abortion in Cows. 
recommended by the late Professor Nocard have been exten- 
sively practised, but it must be admitted with little or no 
apparent benefit. The treatment consisted m frequent disin- 
fection of the premises, combined with repeated spongmg o 
the hindquarters of the cows and syringing of then genital 
passages with germicidal solutions. These latter measures 
were based on the view that infection usually took place per 
vaqinam, and they are obviously futile for the ^ 
infection by the mouth. Frequent disinfection of the piemises 
is no doubt advisable, but the repeated injection of disinfectants 
into the genital passages of healthy cows m order to safeguard 
them from infection must be condemned as being both useless 
aUd As is the case with every chronic contagious disease m 
which there is a long latent stage, any hope of being able to 
arrest an outbreak of contagious abortion must lie _ m the 
possibility of early accurate diagnosis. The agglutination test 
provides that possibility and indicates a new way of dealing 
with, outbreaks. . . 
A point which cannot be too strongly emphasised is that 
every case of abortion should be regarded as of the contagious 
kind until the contrary has been proved. It must, of course 
be admitted that there are cases in which the circumstances 
mav be held to prove that the abortion is the result of some 
such cause as severe mechanical injury, and is not o e 
contagious kind, but such cases are rare. In two instances that 
have recently come under the writer’s notice the owner con- 
sidered it almost certain that the abortion was the result ot 
accident (falling into a ditch in one case, fright and breaking 
fences in the other), but the agglutination test proved that both 
cows were affected with contagious abortion. As^ soon as the 
existence of contagious abortion has been proved m a herd the 
agglutination test should be applied with the least possib e 
delay to every breeding animal in it. The test may show that 
only a small number of animals are affected, and m that event 
the owner will probably be able to get out with very little loss 
bv disposing of these to a butcher. If they are very valuable 
it may be possible to isolate them. Unfortunately, m order to 
be effective such isolation must include separate pasture as 
well as separate houses, and it must be maintained for at least 
three months after the suspected cow has calved or aborted. 
Disinfection of premises ought, of course, to be practised, 
and after abortion the foetus and its membranes ought to be 
destroyed by fire or deeply buried. The genital passages of the 
cow may also be washed out occasionally as long as any visible 
discharge is coming away, and the manure and litter should 
not be spread on grass land. 
