Granular Venereal Disease of Cows iioi 



Accompanying these ovarian diseases are frequently nympho- 

 mania or absence of estrum (stillochsigkeit). One large, vigor- 

 ous heifer in Herd 2 aborted at 2 years, and after an interval of 

 6 months has not been in estrum so far as discovered. The left 

 ovary contained a hypertrophied corpus luteum i yi inches in 

 diameter. It was crushed out. Three weeks later, another of 

 similar size had formed in the same place. It too was pressed 

 out. These diseases may possibly recover spontaneously. In 

 mild cases of the disease, a large proportion of cows breed, if the 

 cysts or yellow bodies are pressed out. 



Abscess of the ovaries occasionally occurs. In one case, we 

 diagnosed the condition by rectal palpation, supported our diag- 

 nosis by digital exploration through an incision in the vagina as 

 for spaying, and verified the conclusion by post mortem 

 examination. 



Inflammation of the oviducts, pyosalpinx, is also observed. 

 Presumably the diseases of the uterus, oviducts and ovaries are 

 due to an extension of the infection along the genital tract, in- 

 volving the oviducts, which may leave them permanently affected, 

 containing pus (pyosalpinx) or causing atresia. When ovaritis 

 or abscess of the ovaries occurs, the pavillion of the oviduct may 

 become adherent to the gland. 



The significance of the disease to the cattle breeder is 

 highly important. European investigators, in Switzerland, 

 Austria, Italy, Germany and Denmark, are practically unani- 

 mous in regarding the disease as one of the worst scourges 

 known to dairymen. Hutyra and Marek (Special Pathology 

 and Therapy of Domestic Animals), Friedberger and Frohner 

 (Special Pathology and Therapy), Ostertag, Hess, Zschokke, 

 Nielsen, and other European investigators, teachers, and authors 

 of the highest rank, unite in regarding the malady as exceed- 

 ingly serious from the standpoint of economics. Some observers 

 regard it as more to be dreaded, economically, than Foot-and- 

 Mouth Disease. 



The data submitted in regard to the various infected herds in- 

 vestigated by us indicate that it is no less serious in America. 

 The fact that some affected herds apparently suffer no ill conse- 

 quences from the malady neither removes nor ameliorates the 

 losses incurred in others. In one herd, where tuberculosis has ex- 

 isted in a large measure and the Bang method is being applied, the 



