COITAL EXANTHEMA 393 



restlessness, frequent straining as if to urinate, the patient 

 seeming much disturbed. 



Pruritus, however, is not a constant symptom. 



The usual benigh course of the disease may be perverted 

 by secondary infection or through the patient rubbing the 

 ulcerous surfaces. Thus in individual cases general pyemia 

 or septicemia may follow. 



Diagnosis. — ^The diagnosis is usually not difficult. The 

 appearance of the vesicles and the ready spread by coition 

 usually suffice for a diagnosis. If, however, np vesicles can 

 be found, the condition might be confused with ulceration 

 due to other causes. In this regard the rapid healing of the 

 ulcer is suggestive. In granular vaginitis of cattle, red-gray 

 nodules appear which give to the affected parts of the vagina 

 a granular appearance. Vesicles are very rarely noted. The 

 disease could hardly be confused with dourine, as it is much 

 more contagious, its course more rapid and termination 

 benign. 



Course. — ^The course of the disease is usually brief and mild. 

 Spontaneous recovery occurs in the majority of cases in two 

 to four weeks. In severe cases or where proper treatment has 

 not been applied, the secondary lesions developing from trau- 

 matism or infection, may take months to cure. In rare 

 instances chronic vaginal catarrh, metritis, cystitis and the 

 like may follow. In bulls abscess of the penis may perma- 

 nently deform the organ or so weaken it that the animal is 

 incapable of performing the coital act. 



Treatment. — In mild cases no special treatment is necessary, 

 although it is advisable to wash off the affected parts of the 

 genital organs with disinfectants (phenol gj, tannin 5j, 

 glycerin §vj, water one gallon). Before applying disinfect- 

 ants to the penis it should be washed thoroughly with soap 

 and water, rinsed and dried. Obstinate ulcers which remain 

 behind may be treated with nitrate of silver or copper sul- 

 phate. Some recommend flushing out the urethra with mild 

 antiseptics. This is, however, rarely necessary. That an 

 infected animal should not be bred is obvious. 



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