Non- Venereal Infections which Invade the Genitalia 319 



found complete pelvic adhesions and a greatly enlarged 

 sclerotic, and irregular uterus. I diagnosed tuberculosis 

 and advised immediate slaughter. Inspection revealed that 

 the disease was confined wholly to the genito-urinary organs 

 and that the lesions were actinomycotic. The general ap- 

 pearances are illustrated in Fig. 92. 



Accurate clinical diagnosis of genital actinomycosis is dif- 

 ficult. Sometimes it closely simulates tuberculosis. Here the 

 tuberculin test may greatly aid, but tuberculosis may exist 

 in other organs and cause a reaction although the genital 

 disease is actinomycotic. In some advanced cases of tuber- 

 culosis with involvement of the genitalia, tuberculin causes 

 no reaction. There occur also in sclerotic metritis due to 

 common pyogenic invasions pelvic adhesions with abscesses 

 closely resembling genital actinomycosis. Ordinarily an 

 accurate clinical diagnosis as to species of infection is not 

 demanded. The lesions render the case hopeless and dic- 

 tate slaughter. Then should follow accurate post-mortem 

 diagnosis, in the interest of contact animals. 



Rarely the disease may be amenable to treatment, but for 

 this purpose needs to be diagnosed early and surgical and 

 medicinal interference promptly put into effect according 

 to the general plan for handling actinomycosis of other or- 

 gans : the seriously diseased tissues should be surgically re- 

 moved and potassium iodide administered internally. When 

 the disease involves the glans penis of the bull, the affected 

 part may be successfully amputated, as described for ma- 

 lignant neoplasms of the penis. 



2. Genital Tuberculosis 



Tuberculosis of the genitalia of cattle has generally been 

 considered as rare and of scant scientific and economic im- 

 portance. William Williams 1 states, "If the cow be in calf, 

 abortion is apt to occur; if not pregnant, the condition 

 called nymphomania is frequently present." Law- states, 

 "The generative organs also occasionally suffer (from tu- 



1 Principles and Practice of Veterinary Medicine, 1875, p. 347. 



2 Vet. Med., Vol. IV, 1902, pp. 448, 449. 



