B. ABSENCE OF ESTRUM 

 Dumb Estrum. " Stillochsigkeit." 



We have already related that sinking of the broad ligaments 

 of the pelvis, in connection with cystic or cysto-fibrous degenera- 

 tion of the ovaries, is not necessarily associated with nympho- 

 mania or abnormal sexual excitement but that there occur cases in 

 cows in which there is an absence of, or only a slight degree of, 

 sexual excitement. In these animals, absence of sexual excite- 

 ment does not interfere with their feeding and they constantly 

 tend to become fat. Accompanying this difficulty, there is 

 usually present the same sinking of the hips as in nymphomania. 

 The history of the animal is about as follows : after calving 

 there is an entire absence of estrum or the broad ligaments of 

 the pelvis recover their normal tension in spite of the ex- 

 istence of the light, clear, albuminous discharge from the vagina ; 

 no estrum appears. After 3-5 weeks post partum there appears, 

 and remains constant, a sinking of the broad ligaments of the 

 pelvis although, during 4-6 months after calving, the cow ex- 

 hibits no signs of estrum. Or, in other cases, estrum has oc- 

 curred for the last time 6-8 months previously, at which date 

 the cow was bred and, because of the non-recurrence of estrum 

 and the general behavior of the animal, it has been supposed 

 that, she was pregnant. This, in spite of the absence of a 

 vaginal discharge, was evidently an erroneous view. 



The condition is generally due to a cystic degeneration of the 

 ovaries, in which the cyst wall is not usually so tensely stretched 

 as in nymphomania but is more flaccid ; atrophy of the ovary ; 

 connective ti.ssue degeneration (cicatricial degeneration, ovarial 

 sclerosis) and, in a few cases, to parturient paresis, that is, as a 

 result of the consequent changes taking place in the ovaries after 

 parturient paresis. In such cows we were repeatedly able to 

 recognize, after many weeks, a persistent yellow body with ab- 

 sence of estrum or a cystic, or more especially a cysto-fibrous 

 degeneration of one or both ovaries, with sinking of the .sacro- 

 .sciatic ligaments, the os uteri open to a degree to admit the passing 

 of a finger, and the uterus enlarged as a result of mild chronic 

 catarrhal endometritis. Seven times we recognized ovarial cysts 

 198 



