Infectious Diseases. Exatninatioti of the Male 151 



referred to the danger to small or young bulls in attempting to 

 serve mature cows of large size. If this disparity in size be too 

 great, copulation may be not only unsafe but even impossible. 



With an undersized young male, care should be taken to give 

 him an advantage in the breeding place. The hind feet of the 

 cow should rest upon lower ground than that upon which the 

 bull stands and the groiind should be dry and of a character to 

 afford secure footing. The breeding stocks recommended by 

 Zschokke and briefly described on page 61 may here be used 

 with benefit. 



IV. Infectious Diseases. 



In describing the venereal diseases, (page 73) we have already 

 recorded their tendency to the production of sterility, especially 

 in the dourine of the stallion and infectious granular venereal 

 disease of cattle. On page 68 we have alluded to the tendenc}'^ 

 of epizootic cellulitis, or pinkeye, to cause sterility in the stallion. 



The Examination of the Male in rei^ation to 

 Sexual Efficiency. 



The ultimate test of sexual efficiency in the male is the regu- 

 lar production of young. This test is not always before us nor 

 is it always essential. Such conditions, as abdominal cryptor- 

 chidy, chronic orchitis with enlargement and induration of the 

 testicles and numerous other conditions, require no physiologic 

 test, but the anatomical conditions alone warrant a verdict of 

 sterility of an incurable kind. When he fails in the test, the 

 question arises as to the cause of sterility, its prognosis and 

 handling. 



An animal may be highly fertile at a given time, be fatted for 

 the show ring or sale and, a few months later, may prove to be 

 wholly and irrecoverably sterile. In our examination, we need 

 first secure from the owner or caretaker a history of the animal 

 as a. breeder, the breeding anamnesis. The veterinarian should 

 determine the presence or absence of sexual desire by bringing 

 the male into the presence of a strange female and observing his 

 actions. A careful distinction should be made between an ab- 

 sence of sexual desire and a failure of erection of the penis. 



In the presence of sexual desire, his ability to mount the fe- 

 male and copulate should be tested. It should be determined 



