Cystic Degeneratio7i of the Ovaries 169 



exploration. This indicates a probable greater functional ac- 

 tivity of the right organ. 



According to Zschokke, the ovaries of medium sized animals 

 weigh approximately 14-19 gr. The dimensions of the ovaries 

 of healthy cows vary between 42 and 47 mm. in their greater, or 

 longitudinal axes, and 12-15 "i^- i" their transverse diame- 

 ters; in heifers they are approximately 23-27 mm. and in aged 

 cows 31-36 mm. 



It is to be observed that the weight and size of the ovaries is, 

 in a large measure, dependent upon prior physiologic occur- 

 rences, such as estrum, conception, etc. 



There is frequently observed upon the surface of the ovary 

 linear or stellate scars, the most prominent linear scars of which 

 we attribute to the rupture of cysts because these occur especially 

 in those ovaries in which we have crushed various cysts. The 

 stellate scars are referred by Zschokke and Simon to the rupture 

 of follicles in which the corpus luteum does not, as is the case in 

 most instances, project beyond the surface. 



Aside from these cicatrices, there is often found upon the sur- 

 faces of many ovaries fibrous tufts as much as r.6 mm. long 

 which possess no clinical importance, and which, according to 

 Simon, consist of numerous capillaries and embryonal wavy, 

 connective tissue fibres with a few .small spindle cells and elastic 

 fibres and often arise from the margins of old yellow bodies. 



We have personally found that in cases of cysto-fibrous de- 

 generated ovaries, which had been vigorou.sly crushed two or 

 three times within a few weeks in consequence of cystic degen- 

 eration in the deeper parts of the organ, not only an evident 

 enlargement of the gland, but that, after castration or slaughter, 

 there was present on the surface of such ovaries a great number 

 of intensely red, fresh, thick tufts, partly in sheet-like groups, 

 partly as solitary projections. 



ETIOLOGY. 



According to the teachings of our extensive statistics, here 

 omitted in order to save space, cystic degeneration occurs most 

 frequently in highly bred, early maturing valuable breeding and 

 milch cows of from five to eight years of age and in well kept 

 heifers of \}i to 3 j-ears. However, ovarian cysts, in young 

 calves and in aged animals, are not at all rare. We have also 



