126 SWINE DISEASES 



secondary to metritis or salpingitis, though it may be 

 metastatic or even primary. 



Lesions. The affected ovary is enlarged, and, the 

 surface being irregular, nodular projections of varying 

 size occur. In the beginning the ovary is intensely 

 red and cut surfaces bleed freely. The nodules repre- 

 sent enlarged graafian follicles, which usually contain a 

 gelatinous substance and sometimes blood. Latent 

 suppurative centers may occur and may or may not be 

 definitely circumscribed by a fibrous capsule. The con- 

 dition may assume a chronic form, the ovarian structure 

 becoming dense and hard due to the proliferation of 

 fibrous tissue. 



Symptoms. The principal evidence of ovarian 

 inflammation is persistent sexual desire, and is manifested 

 by excitement, frequent urination, and the search for a 

 mate. 



Treatment. Anodynes may be used to quiet the 

 animal temporarily, and the blood supply may be diverted 

 by means of a saline purgative or atropine in full physio- 

 logic doses. Therapeutic agents are not at all certain in 

 these cases, and if the patient is not especially valuable for 

 breeding purposes, spaying is recommended. 



Cysts 



Ovarian cysts are quite common in sows. They 

 probably have their origin from graafian follicles that 

 have failed to properly mature. One or both ovaries 

 may be affected. The cystic ovary may be uniformly 

 enlarged or it may be lobulated, the size attained being 

 variable. Reyer reported a case in which an ovarian 

 cyst was found weighing seven pounds. 



Lesions. The affected ovary may contain either a 

 single cyst or many cysts. The cyst may be ovoid, 

 spherical, or lobulated. In those cases of multiple cysts 

 the cysts sometimes communicate with each other or 

 are multilocular. The cystic content may be a thin, 

 limpid fluid, jelly-like, glue-like, bloody, or even caseous. 



