Intestinal Tuberculosis.—Tuberculous enteritis is always accompanied by tuberculosis of the mesenteric glands and of the sublumbar lymphatic chain. It is indicated at first by chronic tympanites and peritonism, unaccompanied, however, by atony of the rumen; at a later period by intermittent diarrhœa, which attains a maximum and is followed by constipation. Finally, when there exist numerous intestinal ulcers, the diarrhœa is profuse and intractable, the animals rapidly grow exhausted, and the disease spreads to other organs with startling rapidity.
The food is ill-digested and the fæces have a repulsive odour, as has also the gas which escapes from the rumen when it is punctured.
TUBERCULOSIS OF THE GENITAL ORGANS.
In males, tuberculosis may attack the testicle and neighbouring organs and tissues; in females, the ovary, uterus, vagina, or udder.
Tuberculosis of the testicle is rare. Moussu appears only to have seen one case, namely, in the boar. The disease produces specific vaginitis and specific orchitis, the serous surfaces of the vaginal tunic becoming adherent, and tubercles forming in the depths of the testicle, whilst in time the testicle becomes the seat of fungoid growths.
Tuberculosis of neighbouring glands has only been observed in the case of the prostate. Clinically it is distinguished by symptoms which suggest difficulty in urination, and comprise frequent straining, efforts to micturate, dysuria, etc. Examination by the rectum reveals changes in the prostate, but affords no exact information as to their nature.
Tuberculosis of the genital tract in the female is usually a delayed complication of a preceding visceral tuberculosis, though it may occur as a primary disease, in which case the lesions are localised about the vulva or the vagina. Tuberculosis of the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and uterus is much more common than that of the two organs just mentioned. It seems certain that the disease may be transmitted directly from the male to the female by copulation, in cases where the male animal has a lesion on the penis.
Tuberculosis of the vulva is rarer, and is indicated by swelling, sclerotic changes, and the presence of tuberculous nodules, varying in size between a lentil and a hazel-nut; after ulceration of these growths, a thick yellowish pus containing the specific bacilli is discharged.
Tuberculosis of the vagina is also indicated by hardening of the walls, sclerous infiltration, and the presence of deep-seated tuberculous nodules, which may or may not become ulcerated. It may follow uterine tuberculosis, the discharge from the uterus continually soiling and at length infecting the floor of the vagina. In such cases the lower wall of the vagina is thickened and infiltrated to a greater extent than the roof, and is sometimes intersected by transverse ulcerated suppurating folds. Bacteriological examination reveals the presence of bacilli.
Tuberculous invasion of the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and uterus is externally indicated by signs of chronic metritis accompanied by a purulent discharge, which may or may not be fœtid, but always possesses special characteristics. The neck of the uterus is half open, and the discharge is continuous. The pus is of a greyish-yellow colour, ill-formed, grumous, or more frequently granular, and it sometimes accumulates in large quantities in the depressions of the vagina. Examination by means of the speculum is of great value in diagnosing such lesions. On examining the parts through the rectum, the walls of the uterus are found to be greatly thickened, sometimes indurated, bosselated or totally deformed.