PART III 



INFECTIONS OF THE GENITAL ORGANS 

 SECTION I. THE GENITAL INFECTIONS OF CATTLE 



CHAPTER XII 



THE SPECIFIC VENEREAL DISEASES 



1. The Vesicular Venereal Disease of Cattle. Vesi- 

 cular Exanthem. Aphthous Venereal 

 Disease. Blaschenausschlag 



The vesicular venereal disease of cattle is widespread in 

 continental Europe, and occurs somewhat rarely in the 

 United States. It is highly contagious. Ordinarily it is 

 transmitted by copulation. After handling diseased ani- 

 mals, it is readily transmitted by careless manipulations of 

 the genitalia of healthy animals, and by grooming apparatus, 

 such as brushes, currycombs,. and sponges. It is yet more 

 certainly carried by means of douching apparatus or other 

 instruments used in handling the diseased animal and thence 

 brought into contact with the sound genital mucosa of an- 

 other. It is one of the most intensely contagious diseases 

 known to veterinarians. Whenever genital contact occurs, 

 whether directly through coitus, or indirectly by such means 

 as suggested above, infection is practically certain. A dis- 

 eased cow may transmit the infection to her neighbor by 

 switching her tail. 



The vesicular venereal disease is analogous to the genital 

 horse pox, or vesicular exanthem of horses, though they arc 

 not known to be related. It bears some resemblance to the 

 chancroid of man. 



The symptoms are very acute and marked. In the fe- 

 male the disease appears suddenly as an intense vulvo- 

 vaginitis. The vulvo-vaginal mucosa becomes greatly in- 

 jected and swollen. It soon shows numerous dark red pe- 

 techiae, which quickly develop vesicles. The vesicles, which 



