CONTAGIOUS ABORTION

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1718, 8 April 1913, Page 8

CONTAGIOUS ABORTION

METHOD OF- CONTROL. •

An interesting address on tho question of the control of contagious abortion iu Connecticut, was Riven by Mr. F. U. Studtmueller at tho thirty-second annual coniorenco of the Connecticut Dairymen's Association. He dealt principally With tho . building up of a healthy herd, 'l'o accomplish' this, he showed that one thing is necessary, namely, that animals infected with contagious abortion germs linfst be .detected :• bfefore they have aborted. 'Fortunately,' such, detection is now possible through the bacteriological laboratory where certain methods of isolating and recognising the gei'in. ha\'o been, re-cently-discovered. The only thing now necessary for tho fanner to do to recoivc tho benefit'.'of this discovery nnd subse-quent-nictliod of detection is to draw, with the'aid of a veterinarian, a small amount of; blood from tho suspected animal's jugular.'vein. This blood, sent to somo : properly equipped laboratory such as tho board of health -requires, can. there be tested, and . tho- animals whose, blood tests positively may b.oseparated from those w;ho.« blood tests negatively. ■Within ii year or. two a .second similar teftt should be made to. permit further .selection and separation if necessary. In this ivayi a. herd. of . animals free from 'contagious':abortion can bo obtained. ... At-the present time, however, sufficiently .well laboratories are. not available'• to farmers in .general, and until they (ire, niost farmers must Te-ort to other'means ;of lessening the disasters Attendant!upon the presence of. this disease. -Much' profit will result .from ;imr niediato separation aVid isolation from the rest of,-'the-herd ; of those animals which 'have just''aborted or- show _ well-known signs- of "approaching abortion. . This, with the precaution of allowing no strange uiiiinals into the herd, will" materially help to-ward 'olf some or those rapidly - spreading'attacks of the disease frequent-' 'ly .reported by,'dairymen. • After a herd has been rendered freo , from tho-disease by tho use of the bac-teriological'fest,"-care must be taken to prevent-reinfection, especially from outside animals.- Purchased animals should bo confined away from the herd until the animals.are_ conclusively proved to.be freo from contagious abortion germs. Special care, should be 'taken of the herd bull .with cows .which show, signs of having aborted.' Always disinfect tho stable .where, in spite of- the caretaker's watchfulness, an aiiiiiial has aborted. It is not 'advisable, to put back into old stables n herd that lias been built up to a healthy condition. (