Congenital Defects of the Ovaries 157 



state whether it be male or female. The vagina and uterus may 

 be somewhat developed but are very rudimentary, while the es- 

 sential glands may resemble more or less the testicle or the ovary 

 but, as a rule, can scarcely be classified as either but simply as a 

 genital gland in the indifferent state. 



Freemartins are frequently spoken of as hermaphrodites and, 

 in a certain sense, they may be so regarded but, since they fre- 

 quently have neither sexual desire, character, nor power, it would 

 be better to speak of such as neuters. 



It is sometimes important that it be determined as early as 

 possible after the birth of twin calves if one of the pair is a free- 

 martin or not. At an early age the question may sometimes be 

 satisfactorily answered by observing the size and form of the 

 vulva, especially by comparing it with a normal calf of similar age 

 and size. If the vulva is normal, it is probably a normal heifer ; 

 if small, it is probably a freemartin. In a freemartin, the cavity 

 of the vagina is frequently absent, which may be recognized by 

 the inability to introduce a sound or a finger beyond the meatus 

 urinarius. As the age of puberty approaches, the differentiation 

 between heifers and freemartins becomes greatly facilitated. . 

 The vulva does not grow or it might better be said that a vulva 

 does not exist, but rather a urethral opening in the perineal 

 region, very narrow, constricted and scarcely admitting of the 

 insertion of a man's finger. No clitoris is recognizable. The 

 animal fails to develop sexual characters in form, voice or be- 

 havior. In some cases there is present a definite vulva into 

 which two, three or more fingers may be passed. Rectal explor- 

 ation may reveal ovaries and uterus or cornua in varying degrees 

 of perfection and estrum may occur. 



Hermaphroditism habitually leads to an arrest in the devel- 

 opment of the ovary, by which it retains more or less of its fetal 

 character and fails to function. 



In mules and other hybrids the ovaries fail to produce fer- 

 tihzable ova as a rule, to which there are rare exceptions. In 

 these animals there is usually a well marked or even exaggerated 

 sexual desire, presumably due to the development of imperfect 

 ova, followed by ovulation. 



Like the testicles, the ovaries are sometimes the seat of der- 

 moid cysts, which may contain hair or teeth. They are neces- 

 sarily congenital and may attain indefinite size. Usually involv- 



