Sexual Dislurbonces. 461 



eyes, exophthalmiis), and various results of these disturbances. 

 The condition apparently depends, as pointed out by Mobius, 

 Greenfield, Rehn and others, upon a functional disturbance of the 

 organ which occasions either a quantitative or qualitative change 

 in the secretion (an excess of the secretion or one in which there 

 is a chemical change) ; but there are numerous uncertainties in 

 relation to these points, as for example, the failure of a case of 

 Basedow's disease to recover after extirpation or atrophy of the 

 gland (Lubarsch). Jewsejenko claims to have met this last dis- 

 ease also in animals (dog, horse) ; Reynard and Rongieux have 

 observed stupidity in dogs and horses after development of goitre. 



Cretinism- and chondrodystrophy have been regarded as dependent upon 

 the thyroid function, but according to Lubarsch's studies there is appar- 

 ently no setiological relationship. 



Disturbances of the Sexual Function. 



Diseases and congenital anomalies of the sexual glands render 

 the individual impotent to produce viable offspring, in males pre- 

 venting formation of semen or procreation {impotence, impo- 

 tentia generandi ct coeundi), in female animals interfering with 

 ovulation, fertilization of the ovum and maturation of the embryo 

 {barrenness, sterility). Even general diseases (as fever, various 

 painftd affections of the muscles and joints, diseases of the spinal 

 cord) may indirectly influence the sexual function (loss of ex- 

 citabihty, mechanical interferences). According to Zschokke 

 even if only one ovary is diseased there is, as a rule, a disturb- 

 ance of the general sexual vitality. A number of affections of 

 the sexual glands, as tuberculosis of the ovaries, chronic inflam- 

 mation or cystic changes of these organs, or undescended testicle, 

 are apt to be accompanied by special excitability of the sexual 

 appetite (constant rutting, buUit.g, horsing, nymphomania, saty- 

 riasis), sometimes with violence of temper. In other cases, how- 

 ever, destruction of the sexual glands by disease or removal b)» 

 castration is followed by suppression of sexual vitality, altera- 

 tions in the state of nutrition, and changes in the bodily struc- 

 ture (change in the type of horns in oxen, loss of antlers in stag 

 and roe-deer, shape of body approximating female type, fat ac- 

 ctmiulation, gentle disposition in castrated male animals). 



(For details cf. Zschokke, >Dic Unfruchtbarkcit dcs Rindes, Zurich, 

 1900.) 



