772 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



shows a great tendency to suffer from orchitis. I have seen 

 in large importing stables 50 to 75 per cent, of the stallions 

 attacked with pink eye suffering from inflammation of the 

 testicles. Along with the swelling of the scrotum and 

 sheath, which accompanies that of the legs, there usually 

 appears a tense, painful enlargement of the testicles, which 

 tends to persist for a considerable period after the general 

 symptoms of the disease have largely disappeared. In some 

 instances permanent sterility results. In other cases, stal- 

 lions which have apparently recovered from the disease have 

 quite uniformly transmitted it, during copulation, to sus- 

 ceptible mares. These observations are entirely in harmony 

 with those of Reeks, who records an instance where an ap- 

 parently sound stallion transmitted the disease to suscepti- 

 ble mares almost uniformly over a period of two years. 



It is notable also that, when the disease attacks a preg- 

 nant mare, it generally causes abortion or, if attacking her 

 just prior to parturition, the living foal is likely to succumb 

 within a few days after birth. Reeks, recording an outbreak 

 under his charge, relates that four pregnant mares, or mares 

 which had just foaled, contracted the disease. Two of the 

 pregnant mares aborted, and the foals of the other two died 

 suddenly shortly after birth. 



Although highly contagious, the affection is of short dura- 

 tion ; usually runs a favorable course, except in those ani- 

 mals used for breeding purposes, in from four to six days ; 

 and leaves the animal but little altered. 



No specific treatment has been discovered. The greatest 

 benefit is to be derived from the administration of diffusible 

 stimulants, such as nitrous ether or carbonate of ammonia, 

 along with quinine. Purgatives are to be avoided. Aloes 

 is especially dangerous. The bland oils might be used in 

 some cases as aperients, or very small doses of eserine, are- 

 coline or other alkaloid hypodermic cathartic, taking care to 

 make the dose sufficiently small to induce no harmful degree 

 of excitement and barely sufficient to cause gentle purga- 

 tion. There is naturally much divergence of opinion among 

 veterinarians in reference to the treatment of this affection, 

 but its general handling is not of special interest here. 



