Another doctrine is that the dermoid cyst is derived from the normal plastic or formative powers of the ovary, and the product becomes suggestive of parthenogenesis or virgin gestation. The fact that these cysts are not confined to the production of skin and hair, but at times form bone, teeth, nervous and other tissues as well, corroborates this view. On the other hand we must bear in mind that dermoid cysts are much more common in other tissues than they are in the ovaries. Thus they are common in the subcutaneous connective tissue and between the muscles.
The symptoms do not differ essentially from those of simple cysts and treatment is mainly by castration. As the escape of the contents into the peritoneal cavity is especially provocative of infection, the greatest care must be taken to extract the mass whole, or to use the most thorough antiseptic precautions.
SOLID OVARIAN TUMORS.
These are much more rare than cystic tumors. They seldom maintain the character of perfect solidity, for whether fibrous, sarcomatous, melanotic, cretaceous, myomatous, cancerous, epithelial, tubercular, glanderous, or actinomycotic, they are usually associated with cysts to a greater or less extent. Not only are they liable to stimulate the formation of cysts, but the special heteroplasia may become engrafted on the walls of pre-existing cysts, as well as on normal tissues.
The symptoms of the solid tumors are in the main, those of the cystic form, and treatment resolves itself into extirpation by castration. Its success will vary according to the nature of the tumor, sarcoma, melanoma and carcinoma being especially liable to recur in the same or in distant situations, and the same is true of the colonizing with infectious germs (glanders, tuberculosis, actinomycosis) which are presumably already present in other parts of the body. Castration has, however, this recommendation, it secures the removal of the entire diseased organ, and if the morbid process or infection is confined to that only, it holds out the best prospect of recovery.
INFLAMMATION OF THE FALLOPIAN TUBES. SALPINGITIS.
This condition is met with in the female mammals of all species and mainly as the result of an infection extending from diseased womb or ovary. The results are degeneration of the epithelium, exudation into the mucosa with thickening, stenosis of the tubes, the formation of cysts along the line of the canal, with pink or straw colored contents, including fibrine, leucocytes, epithelium and granular debris. As in oöphoritis there may be blood extravasations and clots and abscess. In the cow they are at times calcified and create a suspicion of tuberculosis.
The symptoms are essentially those of metritis or ovaritis, and as these are usually more prominent the attendant salpingitis is generally overlooked during life. Careful rectal examination may detect the enlarged, tender or sacculated tubes. Treatment may be laxative, diuretic, derivative, and antiseptic toward the womb. Ablation of the ovaries, tubes and even the womb is often required.
DISEASES OF THE OVIDUCT IN BIRDS.
Imperforate tube near cloaca. Polypus: snare and twist off. Egg impaction: from atony, inflammation, stricture, congenital smallness, exhaustion, large eggs, thick end first, broken egg. Symptoms: mopes alone, feathers erect, wing and tail drooping, large, solid swelling around anus and abdomen. Rupture into abdomen. Treatment: oil cloaca and oviduct, manipulate, turn, break egg and scoop out, incise and extract, antiseptic oils. Excision of ovary.