EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 615 



failure to breed and nymphomonia in those cases in which clinical examination 

 fails to reveal cystic ovaries. Obviously these small cysts in the uterine 

 mucosa could not be detected clinically. It is possible that many of them 

 might be crushed by massage. In this case there was some necrosis of the 

 epithelium with leucocytic infiltration and some fibrosis of the stroma. Over 

 some of the cotyledons the epithelium was stratified, the outer layers of which 

 were apparently undergoing cornification. Sven Wall of Sweden has reported 

 this condition not only of the cotyledon but also of the gland mucosa, and 

 believes that it results from a growing in of the ectodermic epithelium from the 

 vagina. Since this condition was not observed in the gland mucosa of the 

 case studies by the author, he is inclined to look upon it as not the result of a 

 growing in of the epithelium from the vagina but more likely the result of 

 constant irritation of a relatively low degree of the epithelium of the cotyledon. 

 The alterations observed in these cases suggest the thought that the most 

 helpful treatment is that which would provide constant drainage and prevent 

 putrefaction of the necrotic tissue. 



PART II 



Some Observations on the Anatomical Effects of Medicinal Agents 

 ON the Uterine Mucosa of the Cow 



introduction 



The data presented here were collected in an effort to throw some light on 

 the gross and microscopic changes produced in the uterine mucosa by the 

 application of the treatment usually employed by gynecologists for the chronic 

 catarrhal conditions of the uterus. The application of irritants in concen- 

 trated form for the chronic inflammations of mucous membranes is a long 

 established practice. The human gynecologist frequently combines curettage 

 with this treatment for chronic endometritis. The assumption is that the 

 reaction produced by such treatment will destroy the deep seated infection 

 causing the chronic condition. Gynecologists have warned against the use 

 of such heroic treatment for the uterine affections, pointing out that the 

 uterine mucosa is a delicate structure and that the damages wrought by such 

 treatment may be greater than the primary affection. The wi'iter knows of 

 no data, other than clinical, that either proves or disproves this assumption. 

 In the work recorded here no effort was made to determine the effects of such 

 treatment on the bacterial flora of the uterine mucosa. In fact no effort was 

 made to select cases suffering with the chronic affections. of the uterus. The 

 primary object of the work was to make some observations on the damages 

 wrought by such treatment and the extent of repair of the uterine mucosa. 

 The method followed in this work w^as to select non-pregnant cows that had 

 had one or more calves and were to be slaughtered for beef, note the clinical 

 condition of the reproductive organs, apply the medicinal agent and then 

 slaughter the animal and record the gross and histological changes of the 

 mucosae. Each cow reported here was from a dairy herd representative. of 

 the common dairy breeds. Only two preparations have been used in this 

 preliminary work, viz. (1) Lugol's solution of iodine, and (2)the following 

 preparation: menthol crystals, two drams; tincture of iodine, two ounces; 



