700 INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



TUBERCULOSIS OF THE GENITAL ORGANS. 



In males, tuberculosis may attack the testicle and neighbouring 

 organs and tissues; in females, the ovary, uterus, vagina, or udder. 



Tuberculosis of the testicle is rare. Moussu appears only to have 

 seen one case, namely, in the boar. The disease produces specific 

 vaginitis and specific orchitis, the serous surfaces of the vaginal tunic 

 becoming adherent, and tubercles forming in the depths of the tes- 

 ticle, whilst in time the testicle becomes the seat of fungoid growths. 



Tuberculosis of neighbouring glands has only been observed in 

 the case of the prostate. Clinically it is distinguished by symptoms 

 which suggest difficulty in urination, and comprise frequent straining, 

 efi'orts to micturate, dysuria, etc. Examination by the rectum reveals 

 changes in the prostate, but affords no exact information as to their 

 nature. 



Tuberculosis of the genital tract in the female is usually a delayed 

 complication of a preceding visceral tuberculosis, though it may occur 

 as a primary disease, in which case the lesions are localised about 

 the vulva or the vagina. Tuberculosis of the ovaries, Fallopian 

 tubes, and uterus is much more common than that of the two 

 organs just mentioned. It seems certain that the disease may be 

 transmitted directly from the male to the female by copulation, in 

 cases where the male animal has a lesion on the penis. 



Tuberculosis of the vulva is rarer, and is indicated by swelling, 

 sclerotic changes, and the presence of tuberculous nodules, varying in 

 size between a lentil and a hazel-nut ; after ulceration of these growths, 

 a thick yellowish pus containing the specific bacilli is discharged. 



Tuberculosis of the vagina is also indicated by hardening of the 

 walls, sclerous infiltration, and the presence of deep-seated tuber- 

 culous nodules, which may or may not become ulcerated. It may 

 follow uterine tuberculosis, the discharge from the uterus continu- 

 ally soiling and at length infecting the floor of the vagina. In 

 such cases the lower wall of the vagina is thickened and infiltrated 

 to a greater extent than the roof, and is sometimes intersected by 

 transverse ulcerated suppurating folds. Bacteriological examination 

 reveals the presence of bacilli. 



Tuberculous invasion of the ovaries. Fallopian tubes, and uterus 

 is externally indicated by signs of chronic metritis accompanied by 

 a purulent discharge, which may or may not be foetid, but always 

 possesses special characteristics. The neck of the uterus is half 

 open, and the discharge is continuous. The pus is of a greyish- 

 yellow colour, ill-formed, grumous, or more frequently granular, and 

 it sometimes accumulates in large quantities in- the depressions of 



