686 PROLAPSE OF THE VAGINA. 



and believed it was spread during coitus. He recommends irrigation of 

 the vagina with dilute acetate of alumina, which is also said to be a useful 

 prophylactic against infection, and for this purpose is syringed into the 

 bull's prepuce. Wilhelm gives 75 grains of salicylic acid in about 1J pints 

 of linseed tea once daily, discontinuing it on the fifth or sixth day, and 

 later repeating the course two or three times. Frick saw in cows an 

 epizootic catarrhal disease of the vagina which was spread by coition, 

 and was frequently followed by failure to conceive. Recovery followed 

 vaginal irrigations with \ per cent. liq. alum, acet., but only after a long 

 time. 



Dieckerhoff noted a severe infectious vaginitis in cows and mares. 

 Cows affected by it invariably perished ; and though the disease was less 

 severe in mares, some of them also died. The disease set in with fever, 

 and the vaginal inflammation was associated with a tendency to the forma- 

 tion of vesicles and ulcers. A blood-stained exudation was found in the 

 abdominal cavity on post-mortem. The disease developed after a short 

 incubation period (twelve to twenty-four hours), and generally proved 

 fatal in a few days. Disinfection of the vagina with carbolic or creolin 

 solution had no visible effect. In this case also the disease must principally 

 be combated by protective measures. 



II.— PROLAPSE (INVERSION) OF THE VAGINA. 



Prolapse of the vagina is most frequent in cows and sows, rarer 

 in mares, ewes and bitches. It depends on displacement of the 

 uterus backwards and stretching of its ligaments — conditions which 

 are usual after repeated pregnancies. Vaginal prolapse has been 

 attributed to the existence of ovarian cysts, chronic metritis, 

 retention of fcetal membranes, and to confinement and want of 

 exercise. It is favoured by tympanites, distension of the abdomen, 

 continuous stall-feeding on distillers' grains, pressure of the foetus,, 

 severe straining on the part of the animal, and particularly by 

 standing in sloping stalls ; it is seldom seen when animals are in 

 the open. It is commonest in pregnant subjects, especially during 

 the later period of pregnancy, though it also occurs after parturition. 

 In pregnancy the vagina appears beyond the vulva when the animals 

 are lying down, but disappears immediately on rising. Strictly 

 speaking, the condition consists of eversion of the vagina, in which 

 the upper wall is most frequently displaced. When the vagina 

 only attains the vulval opening, a red swelling of varying size, covered 

 with mucous membrane, appears (incomplete prolapse). Less 

 frequently a large portion of the vagina protrudes beyond the vulva, 

 in which case the opening of the uterus is visible in the middle of 

 the swelling, which is about as large as a man's head, and shows, 

 on its lower surface, the opening of the urethra. In prolapse of some 

 duration, the surface of the mucous membrane, previously of a rose-red 



