236 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



the young man showed some of the talents of a trader. He 

 had at his command about 5000 francs and criticized the 

 reckoning of damages. In recent years, while feeding, milk- 

 ing, and grooming the cows, he had had frequent erections, 

 fits of excitement, and delusions. At first he merely forced 

 his hand into the posterior body openings of his charges ; 

 later he used a stick, always, according to his statement, 

 under the pressure of a dark, powerful, inner craving at 

 times when he also suffered from sleeplessness, sweating, 

 dysuria, and erections. He seemed conscious of the wrong, 

 but powerless to resist his cravings. He was adjudged ir- 

 responsible, but made to pay as far as possible for the losses 

 caused. This simpleton had led the veterinary diagnosti- 

 cians a merry chase. According to the official report of the 

 first cases in Wolfikon, the animals had died of an undeter- 

 mined epizootic, probably anthrax. The second outbreak, 

 in Schwartzenbach, was diagnosed as "intestinal diph- 

 theria", especially a localization of malignant, catarrhal 

 fever of rectum and vagina. In both places elaborate pre- 

 cautions against the spread of the malady were taken by 

 thorough disinfection. 



Second Outbreak in Rickenbach 



In the same stable in Rickenbach, in which in November, 

 1895, the acts described above were committed, an ox had to 

 be destroyed in April, 1897, because of rectal hemorrhage. 

 The illness lasted four days. After twelve hours there were 

 symptoms of colpitis. After four days there escaped from 

 the rectum four liters of blood. The animal was weak. 

 Peritonitis was apparent. Autopsy revealed bloody infiltra- 

 tion of the pelvic organs, kidneys, and adrenals. The veteri- 

 narian found numerous injuries in the rectal mucosa, five 

 of which were penetrant. The culprit was an eighteen-year- 

 old caretaker of the animal. Apparently he was not as 

 stupid as his renowned predecessor, but, according to his 

 story, the master had related the misdeeds of the other, and 

 seeing in the stable day after day the short stick previously 



