28o Diseases of the Genital Organs 



discharge therefrom. Urination causes pain of the same 

 general character as that observed in the cow. The swelling 

 of the penis and the sheath may be so great as to cause phi- 

 mosis. Erection of the penis causes bleeding. This is fur- 

 ther emphasized by copulation. Kampmann records a case 

 of extensive necrosis, with permanent deformity of the 

 penis, due to this disease. 



So far as known, the disease does not affect other species 

 of animals. The period of incubation is brief. The course 

 of the disease is brief and stormy. Spontaneous recovery' 

 generally occurs in from ten_to thirty days. It is said that 

 no enduring or valuable immunity is acquired, and that an 

 animal may readily become re-infected by copulation. 



The pathogenic organism which causes the disease, as is 

 common in diseases associated with vesicles, is unknown. 

 Ordinarily an outbreak of the disease appears suddenly and 

 can not be traced to other herds. Like genital horse pox, 

 it appears to develop spontaneously. No suggestion of any 

 exposure from strange cattle exists. Suddenly the out- 

 break is present in the stable in its most acute and highly 

 contagious form. Several or many animals are already 

 infected. Once established, the infection is readily traced 

 from animal to animal. It may then spread to a few neigh- 

 boring herds through the agency of the bull, but it is so evi- 

 dent that it is quickly observed by the layman, who natu- 

 rally takes measures to control it. The disease then dis- 

 appears, until suddenly it reappears in some other area 

 without any connection whatever being traceable between 

 one outbreak and another. 



Ordinarily the differential diagnosis of the vesicular ve- 

 nereal disease is easy. At times there has been confusion 

 with the nodular venereal disease, but this is unnecessary. 

 The former is characterized by vesicles and ulcers ; the lat- 

 ter by nodules or granules, which may be translucent, but 

 are hard and solid throughout. The nodular venereal dis- 

 ease is chronic. While there may be a copious muco-puru- 

 lent discharge and the affected parts may be sensitive, the 

 tenderness is not as marked as in the vesicular venereal 



