General Infections of the Genitalia of Horses 779 



The clinical examination of the genitalia of both 

 sexes of horses is essentially the same as in the cow. 

 The stallion offers differences in the size and form of the 

 seminal vesicles. The act of coitus is more prolonged. The 

 collection of semen for examination is more readily ob- 

 tained through the larger vulva of the mare. The semen 

 may be obtained without vaginal contamination by the use 

 of a rubber bag upon the penis. In other particulars the 

 examination of the genitalia, the semen and the spermatozoa 

 is the same as for the bull. 



The ovaries of the mare lie far forward, but are easily 

 within reach and readily palpated per rectum. The cervix 

 is short and its canal very dilatable, rendering the uterine 

 cavity more readily examined. 



While describing the general infections of bulls, it was 

 pointed out that, in the absence of definite general lesions 

 recognizable by physical examination, there may and do ex- 

 ist in the testicles, epididymis and seminal bladder infec- 

 tions which are ejaculated in the semen and carry serious 

 peril, causing extensive genital disease of the cow and re- 

 sulting in much sterility and abortion. In discussing con- 

 tagious cellulitis of horses it has also been pointed out that 

 the infection may be transmitted to the mare by the stallion 

 during coitus. 



In polygamous reproduction the male is necessarily the 



chief factor in the transmission of genital infections, in 



part because he comes in sex contact with numerous females, 



while the female ordinarily has coitus with but a single 



male. The male is a further peril in sex infection because 



in polygamous reproduction he is placed under more severe 



sex strain, rendering existing infections in his genitalia 



more virulent. Schofield 1 found that abortion in mares was 



chiefly observed in those which had been bred to certain 



stallions. It was further noted by Schofield that the foals, 



born of mares bred to stallions whose mares largely aborted, 



frequently suffered from arthritis. It was thus shown in 



' Investigation into Equine Abortion. F. W. Schofield, Ontario Vet. Col., 

 1 9 r 5 - 



