Spermato- Cystitis 39 1 



observed appear logical and inevitable. In ruminants, 

 swine and solipeds, the seminal vesicles are the outstanding 

 subsidiary sex glands connected with the pelvic urethra, 

 and are believed to supply the chief volume of the semen, 

 serving as a diluent in which the spermatozoa, arriving 

 from the testicles, may swim. This facilitates the ejacula- 

 tion of the highly concentrated mass of spermatozoa. At 

 the same time it is believed that the physiologic secretion 

 from the vesicles stimulates and energizes the spermatozoa, 

 rendering them more active. 



In harmony with this view, present studies show that 

 when the vesicles are inflamed, not only is the ejaculation 

 tardy and the volume of semen scant, but the spermatozoa 

 are non-motile or feeble. Spermatozoa taken from the epi- 

 didymis in a healthy animal are vigorous. Hence it would 

 appear that in semino-vesiculitis the vesicular fluid from the 

 diseased organ devitalizes the spermatozoa. 



The clinical examination of the bull reveals, upon rectal 

 palpation, enlargement and irregular, nodular swelling, 

 with extreme sensitiveness. The physiologic gland, as 

 shown in Figs. 5-7, page 11, may be freely manipulated 

 without causing any evidence of pain but, once it is in- 

 flamed, the bull immediately winces upon the most moderate 

 pressure. There are few glands or organs in the body which 

 show such marked sensitiveness when inflamed as do the 

 vesiculae seminales. 



The clinical history of semino-cystitis is a progressive, or 

 probably sometimes sudden, sterility. Cows fail to conceive 

 uniformly, or there is total sterility. Naturally the cows 

 and heifers are examined, and no explanation for sterility 

 is discovered. Therefore, attention is turned to the bull. 

 In one bull, the vesiculitis was associated with epididymitis, 

 presumably due to a common cause. There appeared to be 

 also some inflammation of the vas deferens. The bull had 

 been imported from England at high cost for breeding some 

 very valuable heifers. Seven were bred without a concep- 

 tion. 



It is not improbable that epididymitis and semino-cystitis 



