Nymphomania 789 



The symptoms of nymphomania in the mare usually ap- 

 pear just prior to estrum or during that period. Estrum 

 may occur with comparative regularity but, in some cases, 

 is apparently more frequent, while the duration of the pe- 

 riod may be so prolonged that the intervals of calm between 

 the periods of sexual mania may be very brief. 



In general, the first symptom of nymphomania, usually 

 appearing a few days prior to estrum, consists of excita- 

 bility and irritability of temper. 



The patient is usually more or less vicious toward other 

 horses and toward men. She will bite and kick at her mate 

 or other horses when approached. Very frequently the pa- 

 tient will crowd against the pole of the wagon or other ve- 

 hicle and perhaps lie down upon it in an effort to reach her 

 mate and inflict injury. She manifests her viciousness by 

 laying back her ears and switching her tail, while her eyes 

 and physiognomy in general betoken evil disposition. The 

 meeting of a strange animal of either sex upon the highway 

 frequently arouses a maniacal storm; the mare balks, lies 

 down upon the pole or thills, urinates and switches her tail ; 

 the vulva is rapidly opened and closed; the clitoris is 

 erected; and the affected animal may attempt to grip the 

 reins with the tail, or may kick, rear or run away. 



Toward persons her disposition is equally disagreeable 

 and often decidedly dangerous. Upon entering the stall to 

 groom, harness, unharness or otherwise handle the animal, 

 she is liable to kick, bite or trample the attendant without 

 warning. In hitching or unhitching the animal, especially 

 when working about her posterior parts, she is very liable 

 to kick. 



In the stable, even when no other animal is near, the pa- 

 tient may show her vice by kicking the sides of her stall, 

 striking and stamping with the feet. In one instance in our 

 clinic, the mania was almost exclusively exhibited when the 

 mare was alone in the stall. Watched from a distance, she 

 would stamp her feet and kick the sides of the box stall in 

 which she was confined. In her maniacal kicking she was 

 utterly indifferent to the consequences to herself and would 



