608 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



The various causes of sterility in women are discussed at 

 considerable length by Kelly, 1 as well as by other writers 2 on 

 gynaecology. Kelly mentions the following conditions as likely 

 to be found associated with sterility : Gonorrhceal infection of 

 Skene's or Bartholin's gland, stricture of the vagina or cervix, 

 the presence of a uterine polyp, a uterine fibroid tumour, a 

 parovarian cyst, or a nodular salpingitis (from gonorrhoea or 

 tuberculosis), atresia of the uterine tube (from inflammation), 

 and the existence of ovarian adhesions. These, and other 

 causes of sterility, and the methods of treatment to be 

 adopted, are fully dealt with by Kelly. 



Sterility in animals, as in Man, is brought about by a variety 

 of causes, 3 some of which are incurable, but others, such as 

 constriction of the os uteri, are capable of treatment. In the 

 case of cattle great difficulty is often experienced in getting the 

 cows to breed after attacks of contagious abortion, and this is 

 said to be due to an acid condition of the vaginal mucous 

 membrane. In order to remedy this, injections of dilute solu- 

 tions of bicarbonate of soda are employed and are found to 

 be effective. Others recommend that the uterus should be 

 injected with solutions of perchloride of mercury. 4 



Sterility in mares and cows and other animals is often due to 

 structural or functional defects in the vagina, os uteri, or cervix. 

 These may sometimes be overcome by resorting to artificial 

 insemination, the methods of which are described below. 5 



Furthermore, sterility among cows may be contagious owing 

 to the disease known as infectious granular vaginitis, which is 

 primarily an acute inflammation of the vulva and vagina. It is 



1 Kelly, Medical Oynecology, London, 1908. 



2 See especially Duncan, Sterility in Women, London, 1884, and 

 Miiller, loc. cit. Duncan states his opinion that probably ten per cent, 

 of the marriages in Great Britain are sterile. 



3 Fleming, Text-book of Veterinary Obstetrics, London, 1878. 



4 Wallace (R.), loc. cit. According to Knowles ("Sterility of Mares and 

 Cows," Amer. Veterinary Review), " sub-acute and chronic cervical hyperasmia 

 are probably the most frequent and fruitful causes of temporary sterility, 

 due in an astonishingly large number of instances to continually recurring 

 abortions." 



5 Constriction of the os uteri in cows may often be remedied by the 

 employment of a large probe followed by the finger, or better still by a 

 specially devised instrument known as a dilator. See Wallace (R.), loc. cit. 



