3 1 2 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



The technic of douching is very simple. The irrigator is 

 filled with^a warm physiological salt solution (1 oz. common 

 salt to 1 gal. water) to which may be added with benefit y^ 

 of 1 per cent, of Lugol's solution. The irrigator is then sus- 

 pended two or three feet above the back of the bull and the 

 catheter gently inserted through the sheath into the prepuce. 

 The insertion is facilitated by the application of a small 

 amount of lard or oil. The douching fluid should be allowed 

 to flow slowly from the catheter before it is inserted into 

 the sheath, in order that all air bubbles shall be forced out. 

 Once introduced, the fluid is permitted to flow freely into 

 the sheath and prepuce. At the same time, the operator 

 should grasp the opening of the sheath and compress it so 

 that the fluid may not escape. This causes the sheath and 

 prepuce to become thoroughly distended, the many complex 

 longitudinal folds of the mucous membrane to become ob- 

 literated, and the fluid to come in contact with every part. 

 When the sheath has become thoroughly distended, the 

 operator should suddenly release the compression on the 

 sheath opening and permit the fluid to escape. As soon as it 

 has all escaped, he should again compress the mouth of the 

 sheath and repeat the operation several times, in order to 

 insure thorough mechanical washing. 



In numerous publications from apparently authentic 

 sources, directions are given for douching the sheath and 

 prepuce of bulls, of which it is impossible for me to approve. 

 Writers frequently state that the douching can be carried 

 out successfully by using a piece of ordinary rubber tubing.' 

 In my judgment this is not true. The ordinary rubber tub- 

 ing is mixed with lead and other diluents which render it 

 very rigid and harsh. Since the end is cut squarely, and 

 frequently roughly, any attempt to push the tubing into the 

 upper part of the sheath and into the prepuce inevitably 

 abrades the mucosa. I think the use of a piece of ordinary 

 rubber tubing can not be too strongly condemned. If the 

 work is worth doing at all, it should be done in a surgical 

 manner with an appliance suitable for the task. 



Another very common error, according to my view, is the 



