27 



In the more chronic forms, the tubules become atrophied, and 

 frequently disappear entirely. The membrana propria may be- 

 come thickened, due to excessive connective tissue formation, or 

 infiltration with serum or exudate. On the other hand, a dis- 

 tinct atrophy may occur. The sti'oma of the organ not i)ifre- 

 ([uently is thickened by inflammatory exudates, or by a noticeable 

 increase in the connective tissue. In some testes, the connective 

 tissue is so much increased that the tubules rapidly become 

 atrophied, and disappear. In abscess formation, due to acute in- 

 flammations, the entire organ Ijecomes enlarged, markedly hyper- 

 aemic, and infiltrated with leucocytes. Necrotic areas appear here 

 and there in the parenchyma. The rete often shows a marked de- 

 generation of the lining epithelium, and atrophy caused by in- 

 crease of the interstitial connective tissue. 



Epididymis: This organ not infrequently presents gross ab- 

 normalities, and very often is pathological on microscopic examina- 

 tion. Acute inflammation, with induration or abscess formation, is 

 very common in the tail, but less so in the head and body. 

 Possibly this is caused by the fact that the tail is the most pendant 

 portion of the organ. In these cases, the tail is enlarged, soft, and 

 quite hot and painful on physical examination. Enlargement, due 

 to a connective tissue induration, occurs occasionally in all three 

 parts, and the inflammation may produce adhesions to the adjacent 

 serous membranes. Inflammation of both the parietal and visceral 

 layers of the tunica vaginalis is very common. In those cases, 

 the membrane usually is quite hyperaemic. and on the surface it 

 presents many small reddened tufts of newly-formed connective tis- 

 sue. In adult bulls it is exceptional not to find at least slight evidence 

 of some previous inflammation. In all of the numerous bulls ex- 

 amined, both apparently normal and sterile, I have found but one 

 in which some evidence of inflammation (either present or past) 

 could not be found. Along with the fibrous tufts, are numerous 

 fine strands of connective tissues passing from the covering of the 

 tail of the epididymis to the adjacent portion of the parietal layer 

 of the tunica. The strands often extend even to the upper part of 

 the head. 



INIicroscopically, inflammation of the part is shown by hyper- 

 aemia, loss of cilia of the lining cells, and exudation. In the more 

 .severe forms, the lining cells which furnish considerable secretion 

 for the nourishment and stimulatioji of the sperms, l)ecome de- 

 generated, and are exfoliated into the lumen, as in Fig. 21. This 

 condition is very common in sterile bulls, and those of lowered 

 fertility. In the chronic types, the interstitial connective tissue is 

 increased in amount, leading to degeneration and atrophy of part 

 or all. of the tubules, as in the case of Bull 2. Infiltration with 

 leucocytes, and necrosis, are the predominating lesions in the p.vo- 

 genic types of inflammation. 



