Diseases of the Reproductive Organs 251 



DISEASES OF THE OVARY 



Atrophy of the Ovary 



By "atrophy" of the ovary is meant a diminution in size 

 of that organ accompanied with a cessation of its physiolog- 

 ical activity. It may shrink to the size and appearance 

 which it has in a very young bird. The following sorts of 

 atrophy of the ovary may be distinguished. The different 

 sorts are separated from each other, not because of any 

 difference in the end result, but because of the different 

 etiological factors concerned. 



1. Physiological atrophy. 



a. Temporary. 



b. Permanent. 



2. Congenital atrophy (Pseudo-hermaphroditism). 



3. "Black atrophy." 



A physiological diminution in size or partial atrophy of 

 the ovary occurs normally in fowls when after a period of 

 laying they go into a more or less prolonged resting period. 

 This condition of the ovary is usually (in fowls under two 

 years old) only temporary. The organ resumes its normal 

 size and activity after a time. In old birds (3 to 6 or more 

 years of age) it not infrequently happens that the ovary passes 

 into an atrophied condition, and remains permanently in that 

 condition thereafter. In such cases the bird as a whole, and 

 the ovary in particular, may be perfectly healthy, showing no 

 sign of disease. Cases of permanent physiological atrophy 

 of the ovary have been observed by the writers as follows : 



One case in a White Crested Black Polish. 



One case in a Cornish Indian Game. 



Several cases in Barred Plymouth Rocks. All of the 

 latter were birds of very high fecundity (200 or more eggs 

 per annum) in their pullet years. 



