60 
which agrees with the observation that the causal lesion very 
often is an inflammation of the cervix. 
In human medicine we have similar conditions. Inflam- 
matory processes in the uterus are supposed to produce a 
cystic degeneration of the ovaries, which again disappears 
when the causal lesion is cured. 
We have no intimate knowledge of the process of cyst 
formation; we only know that generally, solitary and follicu- 
lar cysts produce the symptoms of nymphomania; there are 
different opinions about the real causes and the formation 
of ovarial cysts. 
Zschokke contends that the lack of a yellow body causes 
the cyst to form, as otherwise the ripe follicle would rupture. 
Therefore if an unknown cause prevents the formation of 
the yellow body, the impetus for the rupture of the follicle is 
wanting and it grows larger and larger, finally forming the 
typical ovarial cyst. 
Hess tries to explain the cyst formation by the anatomy 
of the follicle walls, without considering the yellow body at 
all. He explains that in such a fragile tissue as the Graaf fol- 
licle a minute disturbance or an insignificant pathological 
condition is enough to interrupt the alimentary processes, If, 
therefore, the contents of the follicle die, the tunica interna 
will not be able to fill the cavity with connective tissue, as 
is done in the atresia folliculi, The fluid of the follicle is 
then augmented through transudation, and a cyst with 
anemic walls, containing a fluid poor of cells, is formed. 
Hess is of the opinion that cystic degeneration of the 
ovaries is especially frequent in very good milk cows of from 
five to eight years of age; but it is just as often met with in 
very young cows or even heifers. In very high bred animals, 
which are kept all the time in the stable, and which are fed 
with concentrated feed, the ailment is more common than in 
cattle which go on the pasture. Hess thinks the granular 
disease to be an important etiological factor, as he observed 
