ABNORMALITIES IN SEXUAL DESIRE 185 



of potash, morphin and chloral hydrate has but a temporary 

 effect. Laxatives are also employed but do no permanent 

 good. In America large doses of salix nigra have been recom- 

 mended. The preparation of this drug made by Lloyd Brothers 

 of Cincirmati is highly spoken of. Obviously it will have no 

 permanent effect upon cases of nymphomania due to gross 

 lesions in the reproductive organs. 



Diminished Sexual Desire. — Etiology. — A great many 

 causes may diminish the sexual appetite. The patient may 

 be over-fat, of phlegmatic temperament or may be debili- 

 tated from recent illness. Special causes are congenital 

 defects and acquired diseases of the reproductive organs. As 

 examples may be mentioned chronic endometritis, atrophy, 

 degeneration and aplasia of the testicles or ovaries. Exces- 

 sive sexual use, especially when the animals are young, and 

 long continued masturbation are causes. Often the cause is 

 pxirely psychic. For instance many jacks refuse to cover 

 mares although jennets are served with promptness. Zebra 

 stallions will rarely copulate in the presence of persons, 

 although if left alone with the female the coital act is 

 promptly committed. 



Treatment.- — Diminished sexual desire should not be con- 

 fused with impotency or sterility although it may be a cause 

 of these. The food and care of the animal should be looked 

 after and any apparent discrepancies in these factors removed. 

 If the patient is overfat curtailing the food ration, allowing 

 greater quantities of protein and plenty of exercise may over- 

 come the condition. Some male animals which have been 

 kept isolated or away from females for a long time seem to 

 lose the sexual habit. Very young stallions which have never 

 covered a mare must sometimes be encouraged and stimu- 

 lated to perform the coital act. Jacks which refuse to serve 

 mares can often be stimulated sexually by allowing them to 

 smell the urine from a jennet in heat or sometimes even by 

 holding a jennet where they can see her while approaching 

 or teasing the mare to be served. Certain drugs (aphrodis- 

 iacs) will stimulate sexual desire. Cantharides (cows 5j, 

 mares 3ss; or the tinctm-e, cattle 5v and mares Siiss) has 

 long been employed as an agent to promote sexual desire. 



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