170 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



which attend on the sudden revulsion of a great mass of blood from the 

 walls of the contracting womb into the body at large immediately after 

 calving. 



In reviewing this class of diseases, therefore, we have to note, first, 

 that they are almost exclusively restricted to breeding animals; and, 

 second, that in keeping with the absolute difference of the organs in the 

 male and female we find two essentially distinct lists of diseases affect- 

 ing the two sexes. 



EXCESS OF VENEREAL DESIEE SATYRIASIS IN MALE NYMPHOMANIA 



IN FEMALE. 



This may occur in the male from too frequent sexual intercourse, or 

 from injury and congestion of the base of the brain (vaso-dilator center 

 in the medulla), or of the posterior end of the spinal cord, or it may be 

 kept up by congestion or inflammation of the testicles or of the mucous 

 membrane covering the penis. It may be manifested by a constant or 

 frequent erection, by attempts at sexual connection, and sometimes by 

 the discharge of semen without connection. In bad cases the feverish- 

 ness and restlessness lead to loss of flesh, emaciation, and physical 

 weakness. 



It is, however, in the female especially that this morbid desire is 

 most noticeable and injurious. It may be excited by the stimulating 

 quality of the blood in cows fed to excess on highly nitrogenous food, 

 as the seeds of the bean, pea, vetch, tare, wheat bran, middlings, etc. ? 

 especially in the case of such as have no free exercise in the fields, and 

 are subject to constant association with a vigorous young bull. A more 

 frequent cause is the excitation or congestion of some part of the geni- 

 tal organs. Disease of the ovaries is preeminently the cause, and this 

 may be by the formation of cysts (sacs containing liquid), or of solid 

 tumors or degenerations, or, more commonly than all, the deposition of 

 tubercle. Indeed, in case of tuberculosis attacking the abdominal 

 organs of cows the ovaries or the serous membranes that support and 

 cover them (the broad ligaments of the womb) are peculiarly subject 

 to attack and the animal has constant sexual excitement, incessantly 

 riding or being ridden by other cattle, having no leisure to eat nor chew 

 the cud, but moving restlessly, wearing the flesh off its bones and grad- 

 ually wasting. In some localities these cows are known as " bullers," 

 because they are nearly always disposed to take the bull, but they do 

 not conceive, or if they do they are subject to early abortions. They 

 are therefore useless alike for the dairy and for the feeder, unless the 

 removal of the ovaries subdues the sexual excitement, when in the 

 absence of tuberculous disease elsewhere they may be fattened for the 

 butcher. 



Among the other sources of irritation charged with causing nympho- 

 mania are tumors aud cancers of the womb, rigid closure of the neck of 

 the womb, so that conception can not occur and the frequent services 



