Infections of the Vagina 645 



portion of the cervix may be incised or abdominal hyster- 

 otomy performed. If the cow is highly valuable for breed- 

 ing purposes, hysterotomy is perhaps preferable as a rule. 

 The operation has been described in the companion volume, 

 Veterinary Obstetrics. After recovery from the operation, 

 the cervicitis underlying the difficulty is to receive proper 

 attention. Usually a partial or complete amputation of the 

 cervix is indicated. If the animal has no unusual breeding 

 or dairying value, the dilation of the cervix by incision may 

 be simpler and the animal may make a prompter recovery, 

 so far as her general health is concerned, but the cicatrix in 

 the cervix probably leaves her unfit for breeding. However, 

 the mutilated cervix may be successfully amputated later if 

 found desirable. In the non-pregnant cow, when the pro- 

 lapse is due to intra-uterine infection, the cervical canal is 

 to be sufficiently dilated to admit readily the uterine cathe- 

 ter. The uterus is then to be douched with 0.25 to 2 per 

 cent. Lugol's solution or other disinfectant, and bismuth 

 and iodoform suspended in oil introduced. The handling 

 should be repeated at intervals of one to three weeks until 

 recovery is assured. When the prolapse is referable to 

 nymphomaniac cysts in the ovaries, the fundamental plan of 

 handling already advised for nymphomania is to be applied, 

 with special attention to the uterus and cervix. 



7. Infections of the Vagina 



A. Vaginitis 



Vaginitis is induced in many ways. The nodular venereal 

 disease, most clearly and readily recognized in the vulva, 

 commonly extends into the vagina and is revealed by lesions 

 identical with those in the vulva. This has already been de- 

 scribed. Reference has also been made to vaginitis caused 

 by the vesicular venereal disease, coital injuries, and 

 sadism. 



Vaginitis commonly follows parturition and abortion. 

 Primarily parturition and abortion cause more or less se- 

 vere contusions and abrasions. The great pressure under 

 which the fetus is forced through the vagina destroys much 

 of the protective epithelium, and so injures the underlying 

 tissues that hemorrhages are common. The lesions are so 



