NYMPHOMANIA,' SATYRIASIS, 



421 



sensitivenass is dulled; afterward we note the occurrence of para- 

 lytic symptoms produced by an alteration of the spinal cord, as 

 diminution of virility, and lastly impotence, cachexia, and apoplec- 

 tiform attacks. Spinola has found the lumbar marrow softened 

 over an extent of five inches. Exercise, fatiguing work, moderate 

 food, and coitus are the principal means to which we may resort. 

 If they remain inefficient w^e must perform castration. Prangé 

 cured a stallion by having him completely immersed in cold run- 

 ning water, two hours daily, for about ten days. 



Treatment. The cases offering the greatest chance of cure are 

 those where the disease is the result of over-stimulating alimentation 

 or of insufficient exercise. The patients must be subjected to a de- 

 bilitating diet (green fodder), and they must be tired out by hard or 

 prolonged work ; the males should be separated from the females, 

 or used for reproduction.^ Bleeding may also be resorted to, or we 

 may produce a derivation upon the digestive mucous membrane by 

 means of purgatives (sulphate of soda in the ox, aloes and tartar 

 emetic for the horse). Cold lotions and baths are also efficient. 



In order to lower the genesic ardor we should use hydrate of 

 chloral (horse and ox, 20 to 50 grammes in drinks), bromides of 

 potassium and sodium, or subcutaneous injections of morphine (0.2 

 to 0.5 gramme in the ox and the horse). 



The process recognized by Eloire, consisting in the introduction 

 of a foreign body into the uterus, a ball of lead for example, should 

 be tried, but generally the only efficient treatment is castration. In 

 male animals and in the cow, the consequences of this operation are 

 almost always very simple; in the mare a fatal peritonitis is to be 

 feared, and it must not be attempted till all other means have failed.' 



1 I have followed the case of a horse for eight years, which took to the habit of mas- 

 turbating when five years old, and became epileptic. The attacks, which at first were 

 rare, became of almost daily occurrence. I castrated him seven years ago. He had 

 an attack about six weeks after the operation, and a second, which was quite mild, 

 about six months later. Since that time he has not shown anything abnormal. I 

 see him from time to time. — l. t. 



' Castration of the mare per vagina, performed with the help of antiseptic precau- 

 tions, is not so dangerous as it has generally been regarded up to the present time. 

 In the last three years we have castrated nine mares, and none has succumbed. One 

 showed (from the sixth to the twelfth day) somewhat serious symptoms, which we 

 ascribe to a local peritonitis ; in the eight others no special febrile reaction was observed. 

 "We perform the operation in the following manner : The animal is placed in stocks, 

 put under the influence of hydrochlorate of morphine and ether ; the rectum is emp- 

 tied, then the base of the tail, the anus, perineum, vagina, vulva, and buttocks are 



