CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGICAL ANATOMY. 373 
the vagina was swollen, turgid, and hard, and of a size much 
more voluminous than usual. On laying open its walls, a very 
considerable ulceration of its structure was observed. This ulcer- 
ation was entirely seated along the inferior surface. It commenced 
on the upper wall of the vagina, about half an inch from its attach- 
ment to the os uteri, and, after entering the os uteri, it continued 
along the superior wall for fully an inch and a half. Its breadth 
exceeded three-fourths of an inch; but the ulceration did not 
extend up into either cornu uteri. The entire structure of the os 
and cervix uteri was very much hypertrophied and swollen, and, 
indeed, before the canal of the uterus was laid open, the entrance 
into the deeper-seated cavities of the womb seemed entirely closed 
from that of the vagina. This abraded and ulcerated surface was 
very superficial ; there were no tuberculations in its granulating sur- 
face, indicating a cancerous action or tendency, but the surrounding 
hypertrophy was very considerable. Except a slight degree of 
inflammatory congestion in the cornua uteri at their connexion to 
the body, these tubes were perfectly healthy and patent through- 
out. The ovaries presented the usual appearances of those of 
animals that have previously undergone the venereal orgasm. 
There were on the right ovarium three distinct cicatrices on the 
surface of the inserting peritoneal membrane, and on the left one. 
There was no evidence, however, of a true corpus luteum in either 
ovarium. There were several Graafian vesicles in either ovarium 
in a very ripe state ; and there could have been no doubt, had the 
real cause of the sterility been at first appreciated and properly 
treated, but that the application of the bull, even after the period 
referred to, would have been successful. 
Such being the pathological state of parts, it now becomes 
necessary to consider the morbid cause of sterility in this very 
interesting case. 
It is well known to those amongst the veterinary profession who 
have studied the strange phenomena of reproduction, and have 
considered the causes of its prevention, that these may be arranged 
under two heads : — 
First, Such as are consequent on a mechanical obstruction in 
the vice naturales of the generative passages, viz. the vagina, 
the os and cervix uteri, and the cornua uteri ; and 
Secondly, Into those in which there is some malformation of 
the ovaria, in regard to their function of forming their generative 
elements. 
In the present case, however, the sterility cannot be looked upon 
as depending upon the latter class, seeing that the state of the 
ovaria was healthy in the extreme, and not only had they sup- 
plied the needful, but they had abundance to spare. We must 
