of the bacterial flora on fertility. No detailed study was made
of the flora before treatment, however, in one flock in which the
pessaries were not examined it wes possible to study the vaginal
flora at 65 days after removal when the sheep were slaughtered.

Results and Discussion -

A copious quantity of mucous was usually removed with each
sheep pessary and many of the pessaries were characterized by an
objectionable odor usually associated with Corynebacterium pyogenes.
In a few animals the pessaries were partially adherent with the
vaginal mucosa, however no acute or chronic vaginitis is known to
have resulted from insertion of the pessaries. The sheep flock
owners were satisfied with the use of the pessaries and follow-up
on the flocks in succeeding breeding seasons in which pessaries were
not used has not revealed any infertility attributable to the use
of the pessaries.

Table 1.
BACTERIOLOGY OF THE PESSARIES AND VAGINAE OF SHEEP AND GOATS
AFTER REMOVAL OF THE PESSARIES.
e I b R T N S O L R

 

Pessaries Vagina
Sheep Goats Sheep
e SR e e e
Total examined 134 44 50
Number negative 3 22 15
Number positive 3 22 35

Pasteurella hemolytica

Pasteurella multocida

alpha hemolytic streptococci 4
beta hemolytic streptococci
Non-hemolytic streptococci

Hemolytic Escherichia coli

Non-hemolytic Escherichia cali 102
Pseudcmonas spp. 10
Corynebacterium pyogenes 77
Non-hemolytic staphylococci
Hemolytic staphylococcus
Proteus spp.

Bacillus spp.

Neisseria spp.
Flavobacterium

Diphtheroids

Yeasts

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