_Internal Administration of Carbolic Acid._--The uselessness of carbolic
acid and other antiseptics as curative agents has already been referred
to. As a preventive agent by internal administration we believe carbolic
acid to be equally useless. Even if it were possible to administer very
large doses of this poisonous substance, one could not expect to be able
to give enough to destroy the bacilli which have been swallowed and
mixed with the contents of the enormous stomachs and intestines, and it
would be equally hopeless to expect to destroy in this way the bacilli
which have already reached the womb. This alleged measure of prevention
must be regarded as an absurdity which has gained a certain amount of
support owing to observations carelessly collated and carelessly
interpreted.
_Irrigation of the Genital Passages after Abortion._--With the act of
abortion the greater part of the uterine exudate is immediately ejected.
That some of it remains behind for a short period is certain, since we
were able to demonstrate abortion bacilli in material obtained from the
vagina of a heifer three days after she had aborted. On the other hand,
no abortion bacilli could be found in the uterus of another heifer a
month after she had aborted. It seems probable that, as a rule, the
genital organs cleanse themselves by natural means a comparatively short
time after abortion has taken place. Almost immediately after abortion
and expulsion of the membranes the uterus contracts, and its internal
surfaces come into apposition. Its condition is such that it would not
be possible to force fluid into it with a pump from the vagina. Apart
then, from the probability that disinfection of the uterus by
antiseptics is not necessary to rid the organ of abortion bacilli, we
are of opinion that it is futile to attempt it by irrigation methods. So
long as a discharge continues to come from the genital passages, we
think that for hygienic and therapeutic reasons they ought to be
cleansed once or twice by the intravaginal injection of tepid antiseptic
solutions, such as a 2 per cent solution of carbolic acid or a 1 in
3,000 solution of corrosive sublimate, but not on the ground that the
injections will disinfect the uterus. We are of opinion that it will
seldom be necessary to continue the injections for more than a month,
and that after three months there should be small risk in putting the
cow to the bull, provided she is afterwards protected from fresh
infection.
_Removal and disposal of Animals which have aborted._--It is quite a
prevalent custom to feed for the butcher cows which have aborted. It is
also customary to sell such cows alive in the open market. The second
custom we consider likely to introduce disease to other establishments,
unless the animals have ceased to discharge; they should, we think, be
kept for at least three months after abortion before being sent for
sale.
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