176 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



Stricture of the vagina in the cow is comparatively com- 

 mon and of varying degrees. Occasionally one meets cases 

 in which it is impossible to reach the cervix. Frequently 

 the stricture is associated with long-standing sterility, 

 where it is highly desirable to reach the cervix and handle 

 the uterus. 



In my experience, stricture of the vagina has occurred 

 most frequently in herds where the vagina has been douched 

 with potassium permanganate. It is not certain that there 

 is any connection between the potassium permanganate 

 douching and the stricture. Stricture is very liable to fol- 

 low douching with any powerful antiseptic, and very natu- 

 rally might follow the use of a too highly concentrated per- 

 manganate solution. There is another possibility with the 

 potassium permanganate. As it is very heavy and dissolves 

 rather slowly, laymen or careless veterinarians may inad- 

 vertently introduce some crystals into the vagina. The 

 liquid would be largely thrown out, and the heavy crystals 

 remain behind. These would cause profound irritation with 

 necrosis of the mucosa and stricture would naturally follow. 

 Stricture is likely to follow any case of severe vaginitis, re- 

 gardless of the cause. 



If the stricture is not too severe, the prognosis is good. 

 If the condition of the vagina is such that copulation may 

 be safely performed and there is not too great hardening, 

 the vagina may largely recover its normal elasticity during 

 the rest of pregnancy, so that the animal may go through 

 parturition safely. If the uterus requires handling, it may 

 be possible to pass the uterine forceps through the stricture 

 and grasp the cervix without inserting the hand, or the for- 

 ceps may be guided with one hand in the rectum. In other 

 cases, one may be able to introduce the vaginal dilator (Fig. 

 37) and distend the passage sufficiently that the cervix may 

 be seen and grasped. Whenever I have been able to grasp 

 the cervix, it has been possible to draw it out through the 

 constricted vagina and give to the cervix and uterus any at- 

 tention desired. 



