DISEASES OF VAGIXA A^^) MAVMAEY GLAND. 637 



'illscharge of tliis material is inconstant ; it collects iu the fossa 

 navicularis, and comes away in gushes at uncertain periods, par- 

 ticularly when the lips of the vulva are opened. The mucous 

 membrane is reddened at the earlier stages of the disease, but 

 becomes blanched when the affection has existed for some 

 time. There is but little constitutional distiirbance. Very pro- 

 bably the animal is suffering from a common cold, contracted 

 during the period of oestrum ; and generally but Httle treatment 

 is required. 



When vaginitis has been caused by violence of any kind, 

 symptoms of a much graver character than the above manifest 

 themselves. The "mucous membrane becomes highly injected, 

 at first dry and hot ; but a discharge soon takes place, of a thin 

 sanious material, very acrid in its nature, irritating all parts 

 with which it may come in contact, and increasing the inflam- 

 mation already existing, causing such an amount of straining 

 as to threaten inversion of the uterus, and calling for the free 

 administration of opium. I have seen this Yorm in the cow and 

 "bitch, as well as in the mare. When succeeding parturition, 

 it is accompanied by much systemic disturbance, and may 

 prove fatal by extending into the uterus'. 



Treatment. — This must be directed to lessen the local irrita- 

 tion, and to prevent the straining which it excites. This 

 straining becomes in some instances an alarming complication, 

 and it may be so severe as to cause inversion of the uterus. 

 Warm fomentations to the loj^ns and pei'inseum are very sooth- 

 ing, and assist in promoting a discharge of a less irritating mate- 

 rial from the inflamed surface. The vagina may be injected 

 with warm water containing opium, and should there be any 

 foetor, Condy's fluid or the hyposulphite of soda can be added 

 with advantage. The constitutional treatment must be that 

 calculated to soothe without debilitating ; for it must be remem- 

 bered that the inflammation and the accompanying fever are of 

 a low type — the inflammation partaking of the diffuse nature of 

 erysipelas, and the fever of the typhoid cliaracter. Opium, 

 ^belladonna, or hyoscyamus, in combination with the bicarbonate 

 of soda, are best calculated to allay the pain ; and should the 

 bowels be constipated, enemas are to be employed in preference 

 to piirgatives. 



JSo_ active steps should be taken at first to suppress the 



