170 THE DISEASES OE THE DOG. 



good may be effected by the use of aphrodisiacs, such as 

 cantharides, the peppers, and phosphorus pills. Generally 

 more benefit will result from regular exercise, liberal 

 feeding, iron tonics, and careful regulation of the bowels. 

 Where the testes are hard and small a course of iodide of 

 potassium may be followed by marked benefit. 



The testicle is sometimes the seat of malignant disorder, 

 sarcocele. Its most frequent disease is Orchitis, the result 

 of blows or other injury, and also, it is said, excessive 

 venery or sexual excitement without connection. The 

 tense, hot, and red condition of the scrotum directs atten- 

 tion to the affected part, and it is easy to detect the 

 swollen testis within it. Pressure on the gland causes 

 acute pain. Ordinary antiphlogistic measures (especially 

 the application of leeches) should be adopted and a 

 cathartic administered. Sometimes suppuration of the 

 testis occurs, and the resulting abscess, on bursting, leaves 

 a large ragged ulcer, which heals slowly, and for which 

 even castration may be necessary. Cirrhosis of the testis, 

 a form of atrophy, is a much more frequent result. 



The spermatic cord of the dog is very seldom the seat 

 of disease, and scrotal and inguinal hernise are rai-e in the 

 male owing to the shortness of the bowels and the shape 

 of the abdomen ; when it does occur it is generally an 

 epiplocele. 



Section 2.— GENERATIVE OEGANS OF THE 

 FEMALE. 



The ovaries are situated in a special fold of the broad 

 uterine ligaments and characterised by the shortness of 

 this means of support. They are somewhat lobulated and 

 produce numerous ova, several of which, passed into the 

 horns of the uterus, may there become simultaneously im- 

 pregnated. Ovariotomy has been advocated as a routine 

 method of preventing the recurrence periodically of 

 oestrum and the disabilities resulting from pregnancy ; also 



