DISEASES, ETC., OE THE EEMAI.E GENERATIVE 



ORGANS. 



744. Ovarian Diseases. — The ovaries of the mare and cow may 

 become enlarged, diseased, or affected with dropsy ; happily, however, 

 such cases are uncommon in these animals. When present they are 

 extremely difficult to diagnose, as it is only by negative symptoms 

 that their presence can be determined even by an expert. 



745. Ovariotomy, commonly called spaying, is an operation 

 frequently performed on heifers and she-pigs in many districts, par- 

 ticularly in the midland counties. It is analogous to the castration of 

 the male, and the benefits claimed to be derived from it are : — -The 

 convenient housing together of both sexes, and the tendency of spayed 

 animals to speedily lay on fat, and, if milking, to give a larger 

 and longer supply. The operation is also the best preventive for 

 mares and cows that are continually coming into season. 



746. Leucorrhoea or Whites. — This complaint generally aff"ects 

 old animals — the cow particularly — and is characterized by the discharge 

 from the vagina of a glairy, milky-looking, often bad-smelling fluid, 

 which is sometimes so extensive as to run down the thighs and tail. It 

 may arise from too long retention of the after-birth or cleansing, or 

 from chronic inflammation of the vagina or womb. The parts are in 

 a very relaxed condition, and the hand can be readily passed up the 

 vagina to the neck of the womb, which is generally found to be 

 thickened, and open enouf;h to allow the passage of two or three 

 fingers. After an attack of this kind an animal seldom breeds again. 

 Treatment. — Wash the womb out every second or third day with 

 two ounces of tincture of iron, or tincture of iodine, mixed in one 

 gallon of cold water, previously boiled ; also give iron tonics with 

 nux-vomica, or preparations of arsenic. 



747. Pustulant Irritation of the Vagina. — In extremely hot 

 weather both the mare and cow are liable to suffer from this afi'ection. 



