ABORTION.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 3, Issue 5, 15 November 1911, Page 371

ABORTION.

C. J. Reakes,

D.V.Sc., M.R.C.V.S.

It is a matter for extreme satisfaction that the work done during the past few years in combating this disease has given such good results. It is,still necessary, however, for farmers to exercise vigilance and care in preventing the possible reintroduction of contagious abortion into their herds, and to continue the exercise of preventive measures generally.

As regards failure of cows to conceive, this is, on the whole, giving more trouble at the present time than is abortion itself.- The fact of it being so commonly found . associated with the presence /of . contagious abortion in a dairy herd has led to the opinion being formed .that it is in some way the result of infection by the same .specific-organism. Certainly it is undeniable that. careful and proper irrigation, of the womb and vagina has generally resulted in the cows holding to the bull after the next service, provided care has also been taken to properly apply an . antiseptic wash to the bull’s organ. Sometimes, however, the/ trouble has persisted, in spite of treatment, .but here it has not unfrequently been found that the treatment has not been properly carried out, in that the womb itself has not been washed out. ..In empty cows, ..unless, newly. calved or aborted, the tubing recommended. for use cannot be easily introduced through the neck of the . womb. It is necessary for the farmer, after locating it, to carefully dilate it with his. fingers (which must be thoroughly clean), and then guide the end of the tube through it. The opening, can .be detected easily by .its . structureit feels like a sort, of rosette .of fleshy' leaves with the opening in the centre. Its dilatation must be made slowly and carefully, and, if the constriction be great, smearing with belladonna ointment will be of assistance. . An interval of twenty minutes .should elapse between the application of the belladonna and the resumption of the attempt at dilatation.

Trouble of a serious nature has arisen in some cases through the excessive use of corrosive-sublimate solution in washing out heifers or cows which have repeatedly failed to conceive. One farmer in particular treated several of his cows to so excessive an extent that an acute inflammatory condition of the lining membrane of the vagina was set up, the animals being rendered useless for breeding purposes for at any rate some months to come, and having to be fattened for beef. . But it is evident that a large number of cases exist in which bad management on the part of farmers

is really responsible for failure of conception in some of their cows or heifers. The too prevalent practice of allowing the bull to run at large with the cows results in the animal becoming stale and overworked, as a consequence either of his having too many cows to deal with, or of his unnecessarily frequent attentions to individual cows. This is especially the case when, as is frequently observed, young bulls often only two years old are used. It is far better to provide a special small paddock for the bull, and to bring the cows to him as they become ready, removing them again when properly served.

One not unfrequently observed cause of failure of cows to conceive lies in the improper use of corrosive-sublimate solution in irrigating the vagina, &c., immediately before service. At least two days should elapse between the time of irrigation and the time of service, and it is better to carry out the irrigation just before the cow is due to come in season than to wait until the condition has become easily noticeable.

Another cause of failure to get in calf from time to time met with is an attack of septic metritis (inflammation of the womb) following calving. Though the cow apparently recovers, the clinical symptoms disappearing with usually the exception of a slight discharge from the vagina, often overlooked by the owner, some weeks, perhaps months, may elapse before the womb thoroughly regains its normal healthy condition.' Evidence on this point was afforded by a number of specimens sent by Mr. Young, Veterinary Supervisor. These consisted of portions of the womb obtained from cows sent in for slaughter in consequence of their failure to get in calf after repeated services. These had been selected on account of the naked-eye appearances presented, and on examination showed circumscribed areas of chronic inflammation. In cases where a cow has suffered an attack of septic metritis it is advisable to wait three months at least before allowing her to go - to the bull, and, further, to irrigate her at intervals with a mild antiseptic, solution, such as an ounce of lysol to a gallon of warm water.

That the bull, by acting as carrier of infection from cow to cow, is often an important factor in disseminating trouble among the herd is clearly shown by the practical experience obtained, and, so far as circumstantial evidence can go, indicates that many of those numerous cases of failure of cows to conceive which cannot be attributed to his being overworked, and consequently rendered temporarily impotent, are the result of infection of the cow by the specific organism of contagious abortion. It may be that the presence of this organism has the effect of destroying the virility of the spermatozoa, or that the impregnated ovum is aborted shortly after its entrance into the womb. It is an undoubted fact that trouble of this kind has persisted when the owner, though carefully irrigating all his cows, has omitted to treat the bull, but has disappeared when

this omission has been rectified, and the entire herd, including the bull has been treated.

Some stockowners now use lysol, or one of the - preparations derived from coal-tar which are used for sheep-dipping purposes, and usually described as “ non-poisonous ” sheep-dips, instead of corrosive sublimate, for the purpose of treating contagious abortion and failure of conception on both preventive and curative lines. The evidence available points to these preparations being effective, when properly used, and they are certainly less irritating. At the same time practically the only drawback to the use of corrosive sublimate lies in the excessive irritation it temporarily produces. There can be no doubt as to its effectiveness.

One point which may be noted here is the desirableness of keeping the tubing used for irrigation perfectly clean. The fluid used will ensure that the interior is cleaned each time it is used, but there is a tendency on the part of some farmers to allow the outside to become extremely dirty, which is a bad thing.

Finally, I would impress upon farmers the necessity for continued care and vigilance in the exercise of preventive measures. Where irrigation as a preventive measure alone is adopted, lysol in a l-in-80 dilution, or non-poisonous dip in a l-in-60 solution, may be used instead of corrosive sublimate, but where the disease is actually present in a herd it is best to use corrosive sublimate as being the most certain and reliable antiseptic, though the others are really good, and would doubtless give satisfactory results. The continued careful exercise of preventive measures is necessary, especially in dairying districts. No newly purchased bull who has done previous service should be allowed access to the cows until he has been properly irrigated ; and no newly purchased cow should be admitted to the herd, or to service by the bull, until she has been thoroughly washed out with an antiseptic solution.

Where abortion has occurred, even though from other causes than contagion, I would emphasize the necessity for finding, and effectively destroying, not only the aborted calf, but the “ cleansing,” either by burning or deep burial, and, further, of properly dealing with the ground-surface on which it has been dropped. Preferably it should be burned where it lies, as this will also dispose of the infection which exists on the ground ; if not, a fire should be built and kindled over the spot; or, failing that, non-poisonous sheep-dip or quicklime distributed over it, and then the ground-surface deeply dug over. Further, it is essential to bear in mind that the discharges which come away from a cow after aborting consist of infective material, hence the animal should be placed where these discharges cannot contaminate the paddocks, &c., and thus prove a source of danger to other cows in the herd. The cow should be kept so isolated until the discharge has entirely ceased, and be well washed out before being allowed to rejoin the herd. . -