The Abdomen 267 



states that he has observed signs of "estruation" after the ovaries 

 had been removed, the animals even copulating with the male. Such 

 cases have occurred in my own practice, even where both ovaries 

 and uterus had been removed, but only in animals that had estru- 

 ated normally at least once, or had given birth to offspring. These 

 cases are to be explained on the theory of habit, the organism once 

 having experienced the sexual impulse continuing to exhibit it in 

 spite of the loss of the essential organs. There seems little doubt 

 that the operation performed before the advent of the first estrual 

 period is an absolute preventive. In some cases, at least, mani- 

 festations of this nature are due to the leaving behind of small 

 portions of ovarial tissue. Owing to the fact that the enveloping 

 sac of the ovary in adult animals is often the seat of considerable 

 fat, which completely hides the organs within, their recognition in 

 situ is a matter of impossibility, and it is then a very easy matter 

 to leave behind a minute portion of the gland. A peculiarity of 

 these cases of recurring "heat" is the appearance of the symptoms 

 at irregular intervals or almost continuously. Another phenom- 

 enon which occasionally occurs subsequent to the operation, is the 

 so-called "false heat" or attraction of the male without concurrence 

 on the part of the female, which seems to be dependent upon in- 

 creased or changed mucosal secretions. There are no physical signs 

 of estruation, but members of the opposite sex are persistent in 

 their attentions. The condition may last some months, but finally 

 ceases. It is due to the remnant of the reproductive tract under- 

 going certain changes after castration. At first, there occurs a 

 marked hyperemic injection of the mucosa, which becomes soft and 

 swollen. Secondly, the normal secretion is appreciably increased. 

 This condition lasts for a few months, when it is succeeded by 

 shrinkage and atrophy. 



The ultimate effect of the operation upon the organism varies 

 according to individual temperament. Some animals become fat 

 and inactive, while others are in no wise affected. There is little 

 doubt that metabolism is influenced. Curatulo and TaruUi believe 

 that the reproductive glands, besides developing ova, furnish a 

 secretion which modifies tissue change. They found that the phos- 

 phates in, the urine were greatly and permanently reduced in quan- 

 tity after removal of the organs, which explained the utility of 

 castration for the relief of osteo-malacia. Poehl believes this se- 



