546 GENITAL AtPAUATUS. 



verrucous appearance. The entire extent of the vaginal mucous 

 membrane may be attacked, together with the neck of the uterus. In 

 Moussu's case the uterus itself was entirely invaded. 



These false membranes and vegetations are very adherent, and 

 bleed freely at the slightest touch. They are apt to extend by degrees. 



The cause of this infection has not yet been determined. It appears 

 to obtain access to the parts during parturition, and develops insidiously 

 for a week or two, when widespread lesions have already formed. 



The diagnosis is extremely easy. 



The prognosis is grave, for the lesions have a tendency to extend 

 towards neighbouring organs. Moreover, the general health is severely, 

 affected ; there is rapid wasting, loss of appetite, and continued fever 

 and death occurs from exhaustion, intoxication, and possibly infection. 



Treatment. The treatment suggested for the ordinary acute forms 

 appears to be useless in this condition. The new membranes show 

 too many folds, depressions, and accidental culs-de-sac for simple in- 

 jections to have any real effect. Better results might be expected 

 from packing with antiseptic gauze or from the use of antiseptic 

 ointments applied after washing out the cavity with permanganate 

 of potash solution or hydroxyl. 



Curettage, followed by the use of gauze dressings, might also 

 be tried; considerable difficulty must necessarily be anticipated in 

 operating in a cavity which has become inextensible and partly filled 

 with vegetations and false membranes. 



CHRONIC VAGINITIS. 



Chronic vaginitis usually represents the last stage of some form of 

 acute vaginitis, though it occasionally develops in a slow and progres- 

 sive fashion as a primary condition in consequence of some deep-seated 

 genital lesion. There is usually a constant discharge of irritant material. 



The symptoms are not very striking, and are purely local. 



Externally all that can be detected is a continuous or, much more 

 frequently, an intermittent muco-purulent discharge from the vulva, 

 which occurs only on urination, defsecation, coughing, etc. 



Locally, examination with a speculum discloses the fact that the 

 mucous membrane is of a greyish colour, thickened, less yielding 

 than usual, and in places sclerosed. The entire thickness of the 

 mucous membrane is affected, as also at times the muscular tissue, 

 chronic irritation having caused sclerosis. 



The diagnosis is very simple, and the prognosis of no particular 

 gravity, because the animals can always be fattened. The condition 

 is only grave as regards animals intended for breeding. 



