438 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



the other until all disappear. The destruction of the epithe- 

 lium ordinarily occurs first at the summits of the longitudi- 

 nal folds and last at their bases. The denuded mucous folds 

 tend to adhere and to cause thereby small cavities between 

 their bases, lined with epithelium. 



In bacteriologic studies of over eighty pairs of oviducts, 

 Gilman found that a streptococcus of the viridans group 

 was the dominant organism, staphylococcus albus and au- 

 reus were common, and in one instance only did he recognize 

 an organism closely resembling B. abortus. 



The prognosis is virtually hopeless. In more than 90 per 

 cent, of cases, the infection is bilateral. It is possible that 

 in some cases the tubes recover spontaneously, but there is 

 no evidence which fully justifies one in asserting that this 

 occurs. The duct is beyond surgical interference under any 

 known technic, and there is no known medicinal remedy. 



The prevention of salpingitis must be based upon the 

 avoidance of infection in other parts of the genital tract. 

 The infection probably advances into the oviduct from the 

 cervix and uterus. At least we know clinically that, in herds 

 where cervicitis is common, a large proportion of the ani- 

 mals become incurably sterile from salpingitis, in spite of 

 the fact that the cervicitis may almost always be overcome. 

 If, therefore, salpingitis is to be prevented, it is essential 

 that the measures taken shall be timely. Many heifers, suf- 

 fering from salpingitis prior to breeding age, are conse- 

 quently incurably sterile. So far as can be determined now, 

 such infection in heifers should be referred to the nursery 

 period and its prevention based upon keeping the calf in a 

 high state of health. The belief has been expressed else- 

 where that, during dysentery or pneumonia in calves, or 

 when slighter infection exists in the alimentary or pulmo- 

 nary tract, bacteria escape and, entering the blood stream, 

 become lodged in the genital tract, for which they have an 

 affinity. Later, when the animal comes to breeding age, it 

 seems perfectly clear at present that an infection which may 

 bring about salpingitis may be carried by the bull and intro- 

 duced during coitus. This may not interfere with concep- 



