SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
469 
is said to have taken place. In our practice there is no well- 
defined limit between abortion and premature birth. Abor- 
tian may occur at any time during - pregnancy, up to within 
a month of the normal time. It is more often seen during 
the first half of pregnancy, the ovum often escaping without 
being noticed by the owner or affecting the health of the 
mimal. 
In the later stage, or last few months, after the foetus has 
developed to some size, we often have serious trouble, not 
inly in delivering the calf, but also incurring a loss to the 
iwner as a milch cow, she seldom doing so well that season, 
md is very liable to go through the same performance the 
lext time she gets pregnant. Causes: These are many, and 
ire divided into two classes, (i) sporadic or accidental, (2) en- 
:ootic or epizootic. When cases occur here and there, over 
l wide extent of country, without any relationship as to the 
:ause, they are termed sporadic or accidental. The causes 
>f these are numerous, and may be classified as external and 
nternal causes. 
External causes: Atmospherical changes, irregular sea- 
ons, sudden changes from hot to cold, or vice versa . 
4 any observers have noted that a long-continued cold or 
ot spell is less productive to this complaint than one web 
old or frosty night in autumn succeeding a hot day. A very 
'equent cause is in the food; where the food is of bad quality, 
ot being harvested properly; may be due too to much rich 
>od, causing an accumulation of fat in uterus. I myself had 
case only a few weeks ago due to this cause; the fatty mat- 
-r had accumulated in lower portion of uterus, and had 
>osened the foetal membranes from the cotyledons. Bad, 
lthy water which our cattle are often compelled to drink; 
rainage water which has stood until it is stagnant. Blows 
pon the belly from other cattle, or attendants, jamming 
irough narrow passage-ways, being knocked about in trans- 
ortation, excessive exercise, sudden fright, excitement from 
sing chased by dogs, violent purges. 
Internal causes: In some animals there appears to be a 
:ndency to abort more than in others; they do so without 
