200 
A. LIAUTARD. 
In consequence of this fact, with the ordinarily concealed deptli 
of the local lesions, the diagnosis is rendered more difficult in stal¬ 
lions than in mares, and it is frequently the case that the disease 
is first diagnosed by the nervous symptoms alone, although these 
are only of a secondary nature. 
The disease is often discovered in pregnant mares before it 
has been diagnosticated in the stallion, which, when covering the 
mare while suffering with ulceration of the urethra, is sure to 
transmit the disease, even while presenting every visible appear¬ 
ance of being in perfect health himself. 
It has been said that stallions which are entirely free from 
any local lesion may communicate the disease ; but this is not 
the case. The impossibility of making a satisfactory examina¬ 
tion of the urethra through its entire length renders it a verv 
easy matter for deeply-seated lesions to escape detection, and a 
simple, local, and perhaps latent irritation must have been pres¬ 
ent, and might be easily overlooked. 
The local lesion in the stallion ordinarily consists of an in¬ 
crease of coloration and a tumefaction of the mucous membrane, 
from the meatus urinarius throughout the entire length of the 
urethra, with a hypersecretion of mucous. An oedematous tume¬ 
faction, together with a contraction of the border of the prepuce, 
is sometimes observed ; the animal has then a lardaceous sheath. 
In some cases the penis is strongly retracted, while in others it 
hangs out of the sheath and resembles a paraphymosis. The tes¬ 
ticles are always flabby and pendant. The act of copulation is 
performed languidly and with an effort, the ejaculation seems 
difficult, and the stallion will sometimes mount the mare several 
times before accomplishing the act. The sperm is more fluid, 
and the spermatozse are less active than in health, and these char¬ 
acters become more and more pronounced as the disease pro¬ 
gresses. But sometimes, on the other hand, the genital organism 
and sexual desire seems to be increased, and, in sick stallions es¬ 
pecially, there is frequently an involuntary seminal flow. Priapism 
is very common, the erection of the penis being of a painful char¬ 
acter and without evidence of genital desire. In other words, 
the animal has become impotent. The horses frequently stretch 
