314 Diseases of tlie Genital Organs 



When the balanitis becomes severe and coitus becomes 

 difficult or impossible, the douching should be carried out 

 diligently, once or twice a day, according to conditions. 

 Great care should be taken not to use an irritant douche. 

 There is a great tendency among some veterinary practi- 

 tioners, when the infection of the sheath and prepuce be- 

 comes marked, to attempt to disinfect with some very pow- 

 erful solution. These only intensify the disease present. In 

 one case where I was consulted, the attending veterinarian 

 had used 10 per cent, silver nitrate, 5 per cent, compound 

 cresol, a strong solution of lysol, and other disinfectants. 

 Each change was for the worse and the highly valuable bull 

 had been pronounced incurable and slaughter advised. A 

 mild douche, such as advised above, ameliorated the symp- 

 toms very promptly. Within fifteen days the bull was back 

 at work in prime condition, and remained competent and 

 fertile. 



Whenever balanitis is severe, a bull should be taken out of 

 service and kept as free from sexual excitement as possible 

 until the severe symptoms have abated. 



The general principles in controlling the disease in the 

 female are essentially the same as in the male. In breeding 

 heifers for the first time, it is important and prudent to ex- 

 amine the vulva and vagina carefully, in order to determine 

 the intensity of the disease. Frequently it is found to be so 

 intense that there is considerable muco-pus present before 

 coitus has occurred. If such be the case, it is important that 

 the intensity should be ameliorated by flushing the vagina 

 three or four times a week with a warm, physiologic salt 

 solution, to which has been added 1 \ to ' •> per cent, of Lu- 

 gol's solution or of chlorazene. 



After coitus has occurred and time has been given for the 

 spermatozoa to pass out of the vagina and through the cer- 

 vical canal on their way to the oviducts, the vagina should 

 !•<■ douched in order to overcome the irritation of coitus. It 

 lias already been stated that tin's irritation is very profound 

 and causes a tremendous increase in the number of nodules, 

 in the inflammation of the mucosa, and in the amount of 



