418 



DISEASES OF THE GENITAL ORGANS. 



it may be a manifestation of medullar affections, of certain gastrie 

 states, and of abdominal plethora (Haubner-Siedamgrotzky). 



The identity formerly admitted between nymphomania of the 

 cow and hysteria of woman is not at all established. Hysteria 

 is a general neurosis, especially cerebral, which often has no rela- 

 tion with troubles of the genital organs ; and even when it is due 

 to organic alterations of the uterus (catarrh, changes of relation,, 

 tumors, etc.), it is very rarely accompanied by genesic hyperexcita- 

 tion. The main symptoms of hysteria are : melancholia, halluci- 

 nations, hypersesthesia, convulsions, anaesthesia, paralysis, etc. 



Symptoms. A. In the cow. In this female nymphomania 

 begins by heat which returns regularly every three weeks, and by 

 the want of conception in spite of repeated copulations. The 

 patients, which are anxious, restless, agitated, feel an irresistible 

 desire to satisfy their genesic ardor. They try to come near other 

 cows, and mount these and even bulls. The degree of intensity of 

 the vice varies with the individuals : in some cows the symptoms 

 are only slightly marked ; in others, in which they are much more 

 accentuated and violent, they characterize the morbid condition 

 designated bellowing disease. This latter anomaly seems to be 

 much more frequent in some countries than in others ; according to 

 Schmidt-Kettwig, it is expressed by the following symptoms : 



The cows show great anxiety, the look is fixed, and the eye 

 shiny; they are restless, agitated, and try to mount other animals;, 

 they rub their horns against the pillars of the stable and the 

 manger ; at times they scatter their litter, dig the soil, and go on 

 their knees, etc. ; at other times they scratch the floor of the premises 

 violently with their forefeet. At the same time they utter bellows 

 very similar to those of the bull ; these are low at the start, later 

 very loud, extended, and frequent, which take place night and 

 day, but especially in the morning or when strangers enter the 

 stable. The patients have often a savage demeanor ; when ap- 

 proached they become furious and break their chains in going 

 through uncontrollable movements ; at times they attack man.^ 

 Among the other symptoms we must also mention the diminution 

 of the lacteal secretion, the curdling of the milk when boiling, the 

 depression which takes place upon each side of the tail, as in an 

 advanced stage of gestation, and which is due to the relaxation of 

 the ischiatic ligaments. The cow acquires gradually the exterior 

 appearance of the bull, the muscles of the neck increase materially 



