382 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



have taken place within the tubuli seminiferi. If no sper- 

 matozoa are present in the semen, it follows that the excre- 

 tory ducts are blocked or that the spermatogenetic epithe- 

 lial cells are destroyed. So far as known, the blocking of 

 the excretory ducts, as in cases of epididymitis or epididy- 

 mal abscess, is recognizable upon physical examination. 



Severe orchitis, not common in bulls, ordinarily termi- 

 nates in abscessation. Very rarely it appears as an en- 

 zootic. 



Wallraff (Repertorium der Tierheilkunde, 1846, p. 219) 

 records an outbreak of purulent orchitis in horses, cattle 

 and goats. The disease had existed in his locality in Freu- 

 denstadt for a number of years. At least it was known in 

 1832, fourteen years prior to the date of his contribution. 

 For a year prior to his report, the disease had been very 

 common and caused a very considerable loss among breed- 

 ing bulls. It involved animals of all ages, attacking many 

 calves when only 10 to 20 days old. The disease began with 

 light fever and loss of appetite. The animals stamped their 

 hind feet as if afflicted with colic. Presently the testicles 

 became more or less swollen, the scrotum red, hot, and 

 painful upon manipulation. This condition continued from 

 three to five days. Then, upon one or both sides of the scro- 

 tum, a small opening appeared, from which at first a stink- 

 ing discharge, mixed with blood, escaped. After one or two 

 days this discharge was superseded by ordinary pus. This 

 continued for five to fourteen days, until the testicle was 

 wholly destroyed. Wallraff uniformly observed the swell- 

 ing and suppuration in the left testicle first. As a general 

 rule, after one testicle was destroyed, the other also under- 

 went destruction later, though in some cases one of the tes- 

 ticles escaped. 



The disease had little danger for the life of the animal. 

 After the destruction of the testicle, the animal recovered 

 without any very great enlargement of the scrotum. In 

 one case, when the abscess in the testicle ruptured, the bull 

 almost bled to death. Wallraff failed to recognize the 

 cause. For a time he thought it was hereditary, and con- 



