282 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



which have become soiled from the venereal discharges. 

 Disinfection is a difficult problem and must be conducted 

 with caution. The genital mucosa is in such a highly irri- 

 table state that one can not with success employ any strong 

 disinfectant. It must constantly be borne in mind that a 

 mucous membrane can not be definitely disinfected and that 

 any radical effort to disinfect will serve only to irritate and 

 destroy the genital epithelium and intensify the disease. 

 Something must be used which is non-irritant. It will be 

 found that a mechanical cleansing of the parts with a physi- 

 ologic salt solution will best answer the purpose. In this 

 way the tissue debris and pus may be washed away and the 

 highly sensitive ulcers cleansed without inducing any ma- 

 terial pain. On the other hand, the douching actually tends 

 to soothe. If the animal will bear it without pain, very mild 

 antiseptic solutions may be used as a douche, such as 4 per 

 cent, boric acid. Whatever antiseptic is selected, its action 

 should be carefully noted, and whenever it causes straining 

 its use should at once be discontinued. If the cow is not in 

 milk or if the milk is not to be used for human consumption, 

 one may use a dressing of 10 per cent, iodoform in oil in- 

 troduced through a catheter or tube. If the cow is being 

 milked, the use of iodoform inevitably taints the milk in 

 such a manner as to render it obnoxious. 



In some continental European states, the disease is re- 

 portable as a dangerous contagion, subject to legal regula- 

 tions. I have observed several outbreaks, all handled by 

 voluntary personal quarantine. The symptoms are so strik- 

 ing that any intelligent breeder should realize that his in- 

 terests dictate adequate control measures. Under the spe- 

 cific laws for the control of contagious diseases in most 

 states, it may very properly be reported, and should be, if 

 the attitude of the custodian threatens the extension of the 

 disease. I have not known of an outbreak reported to the 

 sanitary authorities in America. 



