186 DISEASES OF THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 



Of late Yohimbin, used subcutaneously, is recommended. 

 Its cost makes it almost prohibitive for veterinary iise. 



STERILITY. 



Definition. — By the term sterility we understand that the 

 female animal is barren or unable to produce young. 



Occurrence. — Sterility is very common especially among 

 well bred cows and obviously attains great economic impor- 

 tance. 



Etiology. — Sterility is a symptom and not a disease. It 

 can have therefore a great many causes. To go into these in 

 detail is beyond the scope of this work. The most common 

 causes, however, are : Disease of the uterus, often a chronic 

 catarrh the result of retained placenta or abortion. In some 

 instances purulent endometritis or chronic catarrh of the 

 cervix or vagina may be the cause. In other cases sterility 

 may be due to the ovaries which harbor retained corpora 

 lutea, or cysts, or are fibrously degenerated. Tumors, or an 

 adhesive peritonitis with displacement of the ovary are 

 rare causes. Furthermore the uterine tubes may be stenotic 

 or occluded. Occasionally tuberculosis of the uterus or ovaries 

 is a cause. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms are failure to conceive although 

 the animal may be bred repeatedly. Occasionally she may 

 never come in heat. In either case she remains barren. 



Prognosis. — Obviously the prognosis depends on the cause. 

 If due merely to a catarrh of the vagina or uterus, which 

 yields to treatment, to retained corpora lutea or ovarian cysts 

 which can be crushed manually, recovery may be expected. 

 On the other hand if due to displacement, tumor formation, 

 tuberculosis, atrophy or aplasia of the ovary, or occluded 

 uterine tubes, the case is hopeless. The same is true of her- 

 maphrodism. Occasionally twins are sterile though not always. 



Treatment. — ^The treatment consists in removing the cause. 

 In cases of chronic catarrhal or suppurative endometritis or 

 vaginitis a thorough disinfection of the genital tract often 

 produces results. If due to occlusion of the os (a rare cause) 

 dilating the opening may suffice. Quite often reducing the 



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