IMPOTENCY 187 



acidity of the catarrhally inflamed vagina, by flushing it out 

 with a one-half of one per cent, solution of bicarbonate of 

 sodium, is useful. Yeast has also been recommended. Obvi- 

 ously on the other hand where there is an organic disease of 

 the organs of reproduction all of these treatments will fail. 

 Therefore many, cases of sterilitj- are incurable. 



IMPOTENCY. 



Definition. — By impotency. is meant the inability of the 

 male to impregnate the female. There are two forms of 

 impotency, viz: (a) The animal may be incapable of per- 

 forming the coital act (coital impotency), and (6) while the 

 coital act may be performed, living, virile spermatazoa are 

 not discharged (azoospermia). 



Etiology. — ^The principal causes of that form of impotency 

 which prevent coition are diseases and injuries of the penis, 

 such as paralysis, tumors and fractures, or of the prepuce 

 such as phimosis and inflammation (posthitis). In other 

 instances the impotency may be due to diseases of the brain 

 and spinal cord or to general weakness of the body as the 

 result of chronic disease. In stallions painful lameness such 

 as spavin, gonitis or sacral lameness may be causes. 



The causes of the second form of impotency are usually 

 due to diseases or degeneration of the testicles as orchitis, 

 aplasia, atrophy, tumors or cryptorchidism leading to asper- 

 mia and azoospermia. 



Treatment. — Treatment consists in removing the cause 

 wherever this is possible. Obviously if organic diseases or 

 injuries which cannot be remedied involve the testicles or 

 penis, treatment is out of question. On the other hand if due 

 to inflammation of the sheath the use of disinfectants and 

 cleanliness will remove this cause. If bodily weakness and 

 general debility are the causes, rest, good food and care are 

 all that are necessary. Young males should not be allowed to 

 serve too many females within a short period of time. Pain- 

 ful conditions of the limbs are sometimes removable by the 

 application of surgical treatment. 



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