Nymphomania 175 



spending variation in the character of the udder and milk. In 

 most of the cases observed by us, the udders were large and finely 

 developed and 3'ielded, before the advent of nymphomania, 8-12 

 liters of milk per milking and only in a dozen cows were we able, 

 in the year of 1905, to recognize a small and flaccid udder and in 

 but a single animal a fleshy udder and, in harmony therewith, a 

 yield of but 2)^ to 6 liters of milk per milking. 



In nymphomaniac cows which had been in milk for a long 

 period the milk from one or more of the quarters was, in some 

 cases, white and without coagula but usually somewhat alkaline 

 or bitter. Occasionally there was a " holding up of the milk " 

 during one milking, a phenomenon which we attribute to vaso- 

 motor paralysis and debility of the vascular muscles of the teats. 



Special Symptoms. 



Among the special apparent symptoms of ovarial nymphoma- 

 nia, sinking of the broad ligaments of the pelvis takes the first 

 place. Although not pathognomonic, it is constant. This symp- 

 tom may reveal itself in varying degree and it isnecessarj' for its 

 proper observance that the animal be stood in a normal position 

 on even ground. 



Concerning the relaxation of the great sciatic ligaments, 

 Goubaux first suggested that it was the result of a serous infil- 

 tration of these structures, leading to their elongation and de- 

 creased tension. In a similar manner Franck expres.sed the 

 opinion that, in addition to this cause, the gravid uterus exerted 

 an influence by dragging the anus and vulva downward and for- 

 ward, thus pulling the .sacro-sciatic ligament inwards into the 

 pelvic cavity. Berdez ' was the first to describe the sinking of the 

 sciatic ligaments as a purely mechanical result of a flexion of the 

 pelvis at the sacro-iliac articulation by which the ligaments be- 

 came relaxed, permitting them to sink inwards. He constructed 

 a highly ingenious model for that purpose, by which he showed 

 how the weight of the gravid uterus upon the abdominal floor 

 served to stretch the sacro-sciatic ligaments. Shortly prior to 

 birth the uterus contracts, the load — fetus, fetal membranes and 

 waters — is lifted from the abdominal floor and is largely supported 



1 Berdez, Schweitz Archiv. fiir Tierheilkunde u. Tierzucht, vol. 4, 1882, 

 page 188. 



