Nostrums and Panacece against Sterility 277 



swollen and hyperaemic, but no estrum was present. The 

 uterus was large. The ovaries were enlarged, but not cystic. 

 Six weeks later, the cow, showing violent estrum, was bred and 

 the owner " believed " her in calf. 



Another cow, nine months post partum, without estrum, and 

 having cystic ovaries, was treated in the same way, developed 

 estrum 10 weeks later, was bred and the owner " believed " her 

 to be pregnant. 



Frubinger (D. M. W. No. 7, 1907) condemns the drug as 

 worthless and attributes the alleged cures in man to suggestion. 



Miiller (Arch. Internat. Phar. et de Therap. Vol. XVII, p. 

 81) considers it an erratic aphrodisiac, acting differently on 

 different individuals. Daels, quoted by Holterbach, experi- 

 mentally caused menstruation in a bitch already in estrum, but 

 bitches usually menstruate at this time anyhow. In another, 

 not in estrum, but date of probable normal estrum ^ot named, 

 menstruation occurred in four days. A third bitch showed a 

 mucous discharge. I,ater, bloody feces were voided and the 

 animal died from the toxic effects of the drug. Autopsy showed 

 enlarged, congested genital canals, prominent ripe ova, etc. 



In experiments with young bitches, less than nine months 

 old, the drug, in fatal toxic doses, failed to cause reactions in 

 the genital organs. 



So far as we have been able to determine, the drug has not 

 induced estrum in any case where estrum may not have occured 

 without it, nor impregnation where such a result was not per- 

 fectly possible without the drug. 



The alleged estrum induced was of doubtful character. Swell- 

 ing of the vulva occurs without estrum. A bloody discharge 

 from the vulva may not be menstruation. The bloody feces 

 following the administration of the drug might be called men- 

 struation with equal right. 



Further authentic data are essential to a reliable conclusion. 

 Until these are at hand, the administration of the di-ug should 

 be regarded as a very expensive experiment of exceedingly 

 doubtful value. It has a possible value in cases where sterility 

 exists as a consequence of the absence of sexual desire without 

 organic disease of the genital glands. 



