136 Veterinary Obstetrics 



function, but, if intense and continuous, it leads to disease changes 

 and death of the cells. 



The anatomical changes observed by Zschokke under these 

 cottditions in the testicles of bulls, without apparent external 

 cause or symptoms, accompanying the sterility, were now and 

 then, sclerotic connective tissue degeneration ; fatty infiltration ; 

 and the formation of bone, or the total calcification of the sem- 

 inal tubules. He asserts that calcification is not at all rare and 

 that it is easily recognized upon a microscopic examination of 

 the excised gland, the white, calcified tubules being easily visi- 

 ble and evident to the touch. The diagnosis of this condition 

 cannot be made by palpation in the living animal with the or- 

 gans in position, or by other means than histologic examination 

 of the excised gland, except by examining the semen and deter- 

 mining the absence of spermatozoa, which would point with con- 

 siderable certainty to a degeneration of this character. It is evi- 

 dent that no method of handling can result in any restoration of 

 the breeding power, under such conditions, and castration is in- 

 dicated. 



4. Hydrocele, or dropsy of the scrotum, in which there is an 

 accumulation of fluid in the scrotal sac between the two peritoneal 

 layers, probably, exerts an unfavorable influence upon the af- 

 fected glands and tends to produce sterility. If the accumula- 

 tion of fluid in the sac is the result of a general dropsy of the 

 peritoneal cavity, ascites, the systemic debility of the animal 

 would usually determine sterility. When the affection is local, 

 as is usually the case in the .stallion, and depends upon a chronic 

 inflammation of the scrotal peritoneum with the accumulation of 

 the secreted fluids in the sac and involves but one organ, it may 

 not induce complete sterility, but affect the formation of • 

 spermatozoa in the diseased testicle only. 



The symptoms of hydrocele consist of a painless enlargement of 

 the scrotum, appearing gradually and usually without recogiza- 

 ble cause. The general health of the animal is not usually in- 

 volved . The swelling is even, soft and suggillating, indicating that 

 it consists of fluid. It is to be diiTerentiated from tumors and 

 orchitis by the firmness of the latter ; it may be distinguished 

 from hernia by rectal exploration, determining, thereby, the 

 presence or absence of a segment of the bowel in the internal in- 

 guinal ring: Its diagnosis may be further established by intro- 



