DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 



By James Law, F. R. C, V. S., 

 Formerly Professor of Veterinary Science, etc., in Cornell University. 



CONGESTION AND INFLAMMATION OF THE TESTICLES, OR 



ORCHITIS. 



In the prime of life, in vigorous health, and on stimulating feed, 

 stallions are subject to congestion of the testicles, which become 

 swollen, hot, and tender, but without any active inflammation. A 

 reduction of the grain in the feed, the administration of 1 or 2 ounces 

 of Glauber's salt daily in the feed, and the bathing of the affected 

 organs daily with tepid water or alum Avater Avill usually restore 

 them to a healthy condition. 



When the factors producing congestion are extraordinarily potent, 

 when there has been frequent copulation and heavy grain feeding, 

 when the weather is warm and the animal has had little exercise, and 

 when the proximity of other horses or mares excites the generative 

 instinct without gratification, this congestion may grow to actual 

 inflammation. Among the other causes of orchitis are blows and 

 penetrating wounds implicating the testicles, abrasions of the scro- 

 tum by a chain or rope passing inside the thigh, contusions and 

 frictions on the gland under rapid paces or heavy draft, compression 

 of the blood vessels of the spermatic cord by the inguinal ring under 

 the same circumstances, and, finally, sympathetic disturbance in 

 cases of disease of the kidneys, bladder, or urethra. Stimulants of 

 the generative functions, like rue, savin, tansy, cantharides, and 

 damiana, may also be accessory causes of congestion and inflamma- 

 tion. Finally, certain specific diseases, like dourine, glanders, and 

 tuberculosis, localized in the testicles, w^ill cause inflammation. 



Symptoms. — Apart from actual wounds of the parts, the symp- 

 toms of orchitis are swelling, heat, and tenderness of the testicles, 

 straddling with the hind legs alike in standing and walking, stiffness 

 and dragging of the hind limbs or of the liml) on the affected side, 

 arching of the loins, abdominal pain, manifested by glancing back 

 at the flank, more or less fever, elevated body temperature, acceler- 

 ated pulse and breathing, lack of appetite, and dullness. In bad 

 164 



