DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 



By JAMES LAW, F. R. C. V. S., 



Professor of Veterinary Science, etc., in Cornell University. 



Diseases of the generative organs are practically confined to animals 

 which are kept for reproduction and the dairy. The castration of the 

 bull condemns these organs to inactivity and protects them from the 

 many causes of injury attendant on the engorged blood-vessels in the 

 frequent periods of sexual excitement, on the exposure to mechanical 

 violence, and on the exposure to infective inoculation. In three 

 respects the castrated male is especially subject to disease: (1) To 

 inflammation and tumefaction of the cut end of the cord that supported 

 the testicle and of the loose connective tissue of the scrotum; (2) to 

 inflammation of the eheath and penis from the accumulation of gravel 

 iu the former, from which the penis is not usually protruded in passing 

 water; and (3) to bruising, abrasion, and inflammation of the sheath 

 and penis during suspension in the stocks for the purpose of shoeing. 

 Apart from these the ox is practically almost exempt from the inflam- 

 mations and injuries of the genital organs. The same applies to the 

 castrated heifer. Inflammation may occur in the broad ligament of the 

 womb whence the ovary has been removed, or inflammation in the 

 abdominal cavity (peritonitis) in case the operation has been performed 

 through the flunk, as it usually is in the young heifer. Apart from 

 these the castrated heifer is practically immune from any trouble of the 

 generative apparatus. Even the virgin heifer is little subject to such 

 troubles, though she is not exempt from inflammations, and above all, 

 morbid growths in the ovaries which remain in place and are function- 

 ally very active after the first year, or in precocious animals after tho 

 first few months of life. The breeding cow on the other hand is sub- 

 jected to all the disturbances attendant on the gradual enlargement of 

 the womb, the diversion of a large mass of blood to its walls, the con- 

 stant drain of nutrient materials of all kinds for the nourishment of tho 

 fetiu, the risks attendant and consequent on abortion and parturi- 

 tion, the dangers of infection from the bull, the risks of sympathetic 

 disturbance in case of serious diseases of other organs, but preemi- 

 nently of the urinary organs ami the udder, and finally the sudden 

 extreme derangements of the circulation ami of the nervous functions 



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