I. THE GENERAL GENITAL INFECTIONS 

 OF STALLIONS 



A. Orchitis and Epididymitis 



1. Degenerative Orchitis and Epididymitis of Colts 

 Colts sometimes suffer from a degenerative or desquama- 

 tive orchitis in which the epididymis participates. The dis- 

 ease is apparently identical with that already described in 

 bull calves. It ordinarily passes unobserved up to breeding 

 age, when attention is attracted to the genitalia by a total 

 want of fertility. Clinical examination reveals small, soft, 

 flabby testicles, about one-fourth to one-half the normal 

 volume. The animal has normal sexual desire and copulates 

 promptly, but no spermatozoa are ejaculated. Histologic 

 examination of the testicles reveals necrosis and desquama- 

 tion of the germinal epithelium, with corresponding changes 

 in the epididymis and absence of spermatozoa. The cause 

 is unknown. Apparently the condition is dependent upon 

 the invasion of the testicles during the nursing period, as 

 appears to be the case in calves. The infection probably ex- 

 ists in the alimentary tract of the foal at birth and acquires 

 invasive power during dysentery. At least the changes ex- 

 ist when puberty is reached and their character points to in- 

 fection as the cause. Since the condition is hopeless, the 

 animal should be castrated and used for work. Prevention 

 of the condition lies in the proper rearing of young foals. 



2. Orchitis and Epididymitis of Adult Stallions 



Reference has already been made to the concurrence of 

 orchitis and epididymitis as a common complication of con- 

 tagious cellulitis in stallions. Orchitis and epididymitis not 

 referable to any recognized specific infection, is observed 

 occasionally in stallions. The clinical evidences of the dis- 

 ease are swelling of the organs with increased heat and evi- 

 dtent pain upon pressure. The testicle itself is so bound down 

 by its tunic that it swells only slowly, while the less re- 

 stricted epididymis swells more rapidly. The line of demar- 

 cation between the two organs quickly becomes indistinct 



