768 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



lowing alleged genital horse pox, there remained a year 

 afterward a severe chronic inflammation of the vagina and 

 bladder, which virtually ruined the animal. In this case, 

 the mucous membrane of the vulva and vagina was greatly 

 thickened, corrugated, sensitive and bled easily upon touch. 

 The bladder was highly inflamed and its mucosa greatly 

 thickened, the urinary salts were deposited over its inner 

 surface, and its cavity was largely obliterated. The meatus 

 urinarius was open and the urine dribbled away involun- 

 tarily, so that the tail and thighs were kept constantly be- 

 fouled and presented a very repulsive appearance. 



The course of the disease is usually mild and brief. Most 

 cases recover spontaneously in from two to three weeks and, 

 under proper handling, recovery is hastened and rendered 

 increasingly certain. 



The nature of the disease is not precisely known. A 

 given outbreak is not usually traceable to any definite source 

 of origin. The disease seems to become established in a com- 

 munity without having been imported by a diseased animal. 

 Once it becomes established, almost every mare bred to an 

 affected stallion contracts the disease with great uniformity. 

 Presumably it is just as transmissible to the stallion, but 

 this is not so often observed, since the mares are not usually 

 bred to different males during the same season. Experi- 

 ments have shown that the vesicles and pustules contain the 

 element of contagion in a virulent form. 



Handling. The handling of the disease depends essen- 

 tially upon a temporary cessation of breeding and upon dis- 

 infection. Any disinfectant will answer the purpose, but it 

 should not be highly irritant, since the parts involved are 

 very sensitive. 



The handling of the stallion is most urgent, so that he may 

 resume service as promptly and safely as possible. I have 

 come to prefer an antiseptic wash composed of 1 ounce of 

 carbolic acid with 2 ounces of tannin and 6 ounces of gly- 

 cerine in 1 gallon of warm water. After washing the penis 

 and prepuce thoroughly with soap and water, this solution 

 is applied freely twice daily and a quantity of it is injected 

 up the urethra until it is supposed to reach nearly to the 

 bladder. 



