Chapter III 



ARTIFICIAL INTERFERENCES WITH 

 REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTIONS 



A. The Artificial Induction of Estrum 



The artificial induction of estrum has a wide application 

 in cattle breeding and in dairying, but has not been rendered 

 available in other species of animals. 



Aphrodisiacs. Yohimbin Spiegel. For many years nu- 

 merous drugs have been credited with the power of arousing 

 the sexual appetite and powers. Among these are canthar- 

 ides, turpentine and the balsams and resins and, more re- 

 cently, a new drug, yohimbin, has been introduced to over- 

 come sterility. In large doses, these drugs induce more or 

 less irritation of the urino-genital tract and, apparently, 

 stimulation of the sexual desire. 



It has not been shown that aphrodisiacs stimulate ovula- 

 tion and spermatogenesis. From all data at hand, they 

 merely arouse the sexual appetite without increasing the re- 

 productive powers. In the minds of some, vigorous sexual 

 desire signifies exalted breeding powers, but this is a false 

 assumption. In nymphomania, for example, the sexual ap- 

 petite is intense and the breeding power nil. Sexual appe- 

 tite, without normal ovulation in the female and the forma- 

 tion of normal spermatozoa in the male, has no value, but is 

 rather a harm, frequently leading the owner astray and di- 

 minishing the value of the patient for other purposes. 



A few years ago vigorous propaganda brought into notice 

 yohimbin spiegel as a magical sex tonic and a great weapon 

 against sterility. The pathology of the cases where it was 

 alleged to give relief was not recorded. It was used almost 

 wholly in females which failed to come in estrum, but why 

 they failed no intimation was given. 



Holterbach (Berlin Tierarztliche Wochenscrift, No. 9, 

 1908), in an exhaustive article, champions the use of the 

 drug. He used it in 37 cases of absence of sexual desire — 



