Cystic Degeneration of the Ovaries 



167 



commonh- iu a different degree. Not infrequently one observes in 

 an ovary, both superficially and deeply, one to four cysts ; in other 

 cases, one large cyst. Ovaries containing two to three large and 

 two to four small cysts are by no means rare. While, under 

 normal conditions, the ovary of the cow varies in size between a 

 bean and a large hazelnut, the gland which is affected with cystic 

 degeneration shows, upon its nodular surface, varying numbers 

 of stellate, radiating or linear scars. The special position of the 

 cysts, which always develop from the follicles, is the stratum par- 

 enchymatosnvi and especially the stratum vasculosiun. In the 

 former, the location of the cyst is more superficial or peripheral, 

 while, in the latter, it is central, The cysts, usually with smooth 

 walls, are found located, as a rule, at the inferior or superior 

 pole of the ovary or occur simultaneously in both positions, and, 

 generally 3 mm. from the mesovarian or ligamentous border and 

 i-io mm. from the free border. Cysts also occur imediately upon 

 the free border^ especially in the middle of the organ. It is, 

 moreover, quite common to find in the center of the ovary, one 



Fig. 16. Normal and Cvstic Ovaries of Cow. 



A. B, B', Cystic ovaries. 



B', Section of B. showing it to consist of two large cysts and one 



corpus luteuui with no visible ovarian tissue. 

 C, Section of the normal ovary, D, showing ovisacs and one corpus 



luteum. One-half size. 



