B. ABSENCE OF ESTRUM 

 Dumb Estrum. " Stillochsigkeit." 



We have already related that sinking of the broad ligaments 

 of the pelvis, in connection with cystic or cysto-fibrous degenera- 

 tion of the ovaries, is not necessarily associated with nympho- 

 mania or abnormal sexual excitement but that there occur cases in 

 cows in which there is an absence of, or only a slight degree of, 

 sexual excitement. In these animals, absence of sexual excite- 

 ment does not interfere with their feeding and they constantly 

 tend to become fat; Accompanying this difficulty, there is 

 usually present the same sinking of the hips as in nymphomania. 

 The history of the animal is about as follows : after calving 

 there is an entire absence of estrum or the broad ligaments of 

 the pelvis recover their normal tension in spite of the ex- 

 istence of the light, clear, albuminous discharge from the vagina ; 

 no estrum appears. After 3-5 weeks post partuni there appears, 

 and remains constant, a sinking of the broad ligaments of the 

 pelvis although, during 4-6 months after calving, the cow ex- 

 hibits no signs of estrum. Or, in other cases, estrum has oc- 

 curred for the last time 6-8 months previously, at which date 

 the cow was bred and, because of the non-recurrence of estrum 

 and the general behavior of the animal, it has been supposed 

 that she was pregnant. This, in spite of the absence of a 

 vaginal discharge, was evidently an erroneous view. 



The condition is generally due to a cystic degeneration of the 

 ovaries, in which the cyst wall is not usually so tensely stretched 

 as in nymphomania but is more flaccid ; atrophy of the ovary ; 

 connective tissue degeneration (cicatricial degeneration, ovarial 

 sclerosis) and, in a few cases, to parturient paresis, that is, as a 

 result of the consequent changes taking place in the ovaries after 

 parturient paresis. In such cows we were repeatedly able to 

 recognize, after many weeks, a persistent yellow body with ab- 

 sence of estrum or a cystic, or more especially a cysto-fibrous 

 degeneration of one or both ovaries, with sinking of the sacro- 

 sciatic ligaments, the os uteri open to a degree to admit the passing 

 of a finger, and the uterus enlarged as a result of mild chronic 

 catarrhal endometritis. Seven times we recognized ovarial cysts. 



