424 



DISEASES OF THE GENITAL ORGANS. 



the genital activity may be regulated by avoiding too frequent 

 copulations for young males, and in often bringing phlegmatic 

 mares to the stallion, etc. 



We resort sometimes to aphrodisiacs, particularly to cantharides 

 powder, the effects of which are especially remarkable at the period 

 of rut, when the heat is slight and imperfectly characterized. To 

 large-sized cows we give every day, for several consecutive days, 5 

 to 6 grammes of cantharides powder in wine or between two pieces 

 of bread ; the dose for the horse is from 1 to 2 grammes. The 

 doses of tincture of cantharides are : for the cow, 20 grammes ; for 

 the horse, 10 grammes; for the dog, 0.5 to 1 gramme. In the 

 group of aphrodisiacs are contained all the condiments, the balsams^ 

 resins, essential oils, alcohol [pepper, 10 to 15 grammes, for the 

 cow; ginger, cumin, wine (Beaufile), black mustard seed, myrtle 

 berries, aloes (Houdmont and Zundel), flowering tops of sabine, 

 cognac, beer mixture, alcohol, etc.]. All these medicanaents pro- 

 duce hyperemia of the abdominal viscera, turgescence of the ovaries 

 and testicles ; they may awaken genesic activity, but when the cause 

 of the anomaly resides in the organic alterations these means are 

 absolutely insufficient. 



IMPOTENCE AND STERILITY. 



By the term impotence we designate the lack of aptness of the 

 male to reproduction, and by that of sterility the same anomaly in 

 the female, 



I. Impotence of the male. It appears under two very dif- 

 ferent forms : at times it is characterized by a mechanical impossi- 

 bility of copulation (true impotence) ; at other times it is due to 

 the want of spermatic secretion (sterility of the male). For clear- 

 ness of description we will distinguish these two forms under the 

 names of impotence of copulation and seminal impotence. 



a. Impotence of copulation could also bear the name of 

 relative impotence, for it is possible to obtain its cure. It is the 

 result of functional troubles or alterations which prevent coitus. 

 The genesic instinct may be very ardent and the sperm normal. 



Its causes consist of very various external anomalies. The prin- 

 cipal are : 



1. Weakness of the genital apparatus (see Weakening of the 

 Genesic Sense — etiology) produced by chronic cerebral or medullary 



