166 DISEASES OF THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 



detail is beyond the scope of this work. The most common 

 causes, however, are: Disease of the uterus, often a chronic 

 catarrh the result of retained placenta or abortion. In some 

 instances purulent endometritis or chronic catarrh of the 

 cervix or vagina may be the cause. In other cases sterility 

 may be due to the ovaries which are cystic or fibrously 

 degenerated, or tumors, or an adhesive peritonitis with dis- 

 placement of the ovary. Furthermore, the uterine tubes may 

 be stenotic or occluded. Occasionally tuberculosis of the 

 uterus or ovaries is a cause. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms are failure to conceive, although 

 the animal may be bred repeatedly. Occasionally she may 

 never come in heat. In either case she remains barren.- 



Prognosis. — Obviously the prognosis depends on the cause. 

 If due merely to a catarrh of the vagina or uterus, which 

 yields to treatment, or to cystic ovaries and the cysts can be 

 crushed manually, recovery may be expected. On the other 

 hand, if due to displacement, tumor formation, tuberculosis, 

 atrophy or aplasia of the ovary the case is hopeless. The same 

 is true of hermaphrodism. Occasionally twins are sterile, 

 though not always. 



Treatment. — The treatment consists in removing the cause. 

 In cases of chronic catarrhal or suppurative endometritis or 

 vaginitis a thorough disinfection of the genital tract often 

 produces results. If due to occlusion of the os (a rare cause) 

 dilating the opening may suffice. Quite often reducing the 

 acidity of the catarrhally inflamed vagina, by flushing it out 

 with a 0.5 per cent, solution of bicarbonate of sodium, is 

 useful. Yeast has also been recommended. Obviously, on 

 the other hand, where there is an organic disease of the organs 

 of reproduction all of these treatments will fail. Therefore 

 many cases of sterility are incurable. > 



IMPOTENCY. 



Definition. — By impotency is meant the inability of the 

 male to impregnate the female. There are two forms of 

 impotency, viz.: (a) the animal may be incapable of per- 

 forming the coital act (coital impotency) and (b) while the 



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