Treatment. The treatment varies considerably, according to the nature of the lesion.
In mild cases where nympho-mania is due to some lesion of the clitoris (balanitis, hypertrophy, or tumour formation), the radical treatment consists in clitoridectomy. The operation is comparatively slight, the organ being removed with forceps and scissors, or with a bistoury after the animal has been hobbled or placed in a trevis. The hæmorrhage which follows removal of the clitoris is of little importance, and after-treatment simply consists in keeping the parts clean.
Animals so treated can sometimes be preserved for breeding.
Fig. 236.—Specimen of lesions found in nympho-mania. V, Vagina laid open; Cu, neck of the uterus; O, O, ovaries; Cd, right horn of the uterus; Cg, left horn of the uterus; K, K, K, peri-uterine cysts.
When nympho-mania co-exists with, and is a delayed consequence of, either chronic vaginitis or metritis localised in the neck of the uterus, or, again, chronic metritis of the cavity of the uterus, etc., the treatment must be directed against these diseases, and the nervous condition may be sufficiently modified to render the animals useful for breeding, or at least for slaughter, while fattening is easy.
Similarly, when the nervous condition results from a lesion of the ovary, improvement will only follow removal of the diseased part. The operation is similar to that of castration of the female. It presents, however, certain added difficulties, in consequence of the size of the organs and of the abnormal adhesions which often occur. Nevertheless, these difficulties are seldom insurmountable.
In the case of peri-uterine disease operation is difficult, and it is better to slaughter the animal.
Finally, as may occasionally happen, should there be no congenital lesion capable of explaining the appearance of nympho-mania, the disease may be regarded as a neurosis, and may then be treated by such sedatives as the bromides of potassium, sodium and strontium, in doses of 2 to 3 drachms per day, divided into two or three portions. Bromide of camphor also gives excellent results by acting simultaneously on the nervous system and calming excessive genital irritation.
The above method of treatment is much preferable to performing clitoridectomy, or ovariotomy as a kind of panacea, although certain writers have suggested these operations without taking into account the special local conditions.