ON r DISEASED OVAltlA. 
106 
would the true nature of it be suspected till the enlargement 
had increased so far as to protrude into the pelvis, and, by its 
pressure upon the course of the rectum and that of the urethra, 
forma partial impediment to the free course of the faeces and 
urine. At the same time the labia pudendi become thickened 
and enlarged ; and their absorbents and bloodvessels in a varicose 
state, forming' a strong diagnostic symptom conjointly with the 
others already enumerated* The causes of this peculiar dis- 
ease are very obscure, some constitutions being more prone to 
glandular affections and disease than others ; but why we cannot 
tell. In the human subject, one of the most frequent exciting 
causes is an excess in venery. The treatment should consist in 
keeping the faeces soluble by the least irritating purgatives, such 
as ol. lini . , sal. Glaub., sal. Epsom, &c.; at the same time push- 
ing to the utmost the administration of the hydriodate of potash 
conjoined with extract of hemlock. The diet should consist of 
flax-seed mashes, nice choice hay, or, when the season allows, 
green meat. Whenever the animal is attacked with much occa- 
sional pain, and rolling about from its urgency, depletion should 
be had recourse to, according to the violence of the symptoms; 
hot fomentations should be applied to the pubic region, warm 
clysters frequently injected into the rectum, and antiphlogistic 
remedies administered internally, till the urgent symptoms are 
removed, when the previous treatment must be steadily resorted 
to again. No mare should be allowed to be put to the horse 
under these circumstances. 
The following case will elucidate the character of diseased 
ovarii, and the symptoms by which they are marked. It was 
that of a half-bred mare, belonging to a farmer resident eighteen 
miles off, who had had a farrier in his own neighbourhood to 
attend upon her for some time without any good effect being 
produced ; he therefore brought her over with difficulty to our 
establishment, and left her in our care. On inquiry, we found that 
she had been gradually sinking in flesh for a length of time, as 
was supposed from a surfeit (although kept w : ell); was constantly 
down, and had, when getting up again, considerable difficulty 
in raising her hinder parts. On observing her myself, I found 
that, added to these symptoms, she had much pain, which was 
expressed by her frequent disposition to lie down, looking towards 
her flanks, groaning, and rolling upon her back, and this being ag- 
gravated on either voiding her faeces or emitting her urine. Her 
appetite varied considerably at different periods; sometimes, when 
free from the paroxysms, being tolerably good, at others very 
indifferent. As the disease advanced, her appetite diminished ; 
the emission of urine was frequent, irregular in quantity, and 
