The Oviducts 23 



absent in this animal, whereas it is very similar in actual length 

 to that seen in other species. When divested of any concealing 

 coverings of peritoneum, ^f at or other tissues, the oviduct appears 

 as a very tortuous, firm white cord about . i inch in diameter, of 

 variable length in different species of animals. It is very firm to 

 the touch and gives a sensation much like its analogue in the 

 male, the vas deferens. After dissecting it out from the sur- 

 rounding tissues and carefully eliminating its numerous abrupt 

 curves, a very fine sound, like one of the tail hairs of a horse, may 

 be inserted at one opening and passed through its entire length. 

 The opening is therefore very narrow and being remarkably tor- 

 tuous in its disposition it becomes difficult to pass either a solid 

 object like a sound or even a liquid through it. While, techni- 

 cally, the oviducts complete a communication between the peri- 

 toneal cavity and the exterior, it seems virtually impassable except 

 to ova and spermatozoa and does not, under usual conditions, 

 permit even the forcing of liquids through them when intra- 

 uterine injections are made under comparatively high pressure. 

 Clinically, they are also well-nigh proof against the passage of 

 bacteria unless we except some special organisms like those of 

 gonorrhea in woman. Occasionally, however, after abortion, 

 retained placenta, nodular venereal disease, etc., in cows and 

 other animals, infection extends along the oviducts, causing dis- 

 ease of them or, reaching the ovary, induces abscess or other disease 

 causing sterlity. 



The intimacy of contact between the peritoneum and oviduct 

 varies according to species, the investment being very close in 

 ruminants and the sow so that they are readily seen without dis- 

 section, while, in the mare, it is surrounded by much connective 

 tissue, which serves to conceal it from view until the peritoneal 

 and fibrous coverings are dissected away ; and in the bitch the 

 concealment is further accentuated by large amounts of adipose 

 tissue. 



The oviduct opens anteriorly through the ostium abdominale 

 into the pavillion of the tube and posteriorly into the uterine 

 cornu through the ostium uterinum, which usually projects 

 somewhat as a small eminence into the cavity of the cornu. 



The muscular coat of the oviducts is characterized chiefly by 

 its density, which gives to it an almost cartilaginous consistency, 

 and its paleness, which amounts almost to translucency. 



