430 Chapter XIII 



is attributed, we must accept the intervention of acidophile bacteria 

 whicli grow well in acid secretions but which hinder the development 

 of other micro-organisms. Doederlein concludes that it is more 

 especially to the bacillus which bears his name that the vagina owes 

 its protection against infective germs. Menge, however, attributes 

 this action to a whole series of bacteria. 



After introducing a quantity of the Staphylococcus pyogenes 

 into the vagina of new-born females, Menge found that they grew 

 [451] for a certain length of time. Their presence excited a great ac- 

 cumulation of leucocytes in the vaginal mucus, this being followed 

 by a very marked ingestion of the micro-organisms, but it was only 

 from the moment when the vagina became peopled with the bacteria 

 which constitute its normal flora that the staphylococci began to 

 disappear. This process of autopurification only ceased three days 

 after the introduction of these bacteria. Menge asked himself 

 whether some purely mechanical element did not contribute to rid 

 the vagina of the micro-organisms which had entered it. To settle 

 this point he introduced into this cavity grains of vermilion, and 

 as these latter remained there for a longer period than did the 

 micro-organisms, he concluded that the vagina was incapable of 

 purifying itself by mechanical means. We must, however, in these 

 experiments take into account the fact that the micro-organisms 

 which Menge introduced into the vagina excited considerable reaction, 

 accompanied by a marked leucocytosis. Under these conditions 

 there should be produced a greater quantity of the mucous secretions 

 which could much more readily carry ofi" with them the micro- 

 organisms that had come into the vagina than the smaller quantity 

 could deal with the vermilion. It is very probable, therefore, that, 

 just as in the case of the other mucous membranes, that of the 

 female genital organs is capable of mechanically expelling fine 

 particles, and especially micro-organisms. 



With the object of throwing further light on the problem of the 

 autopurification of the vagina, Cahanescu^, working in my laboratory, 

 undertook experiments on the females of several species of mammals. 

 The mare, as producing the greatest amount of vaginal mucus, was 

 selected by this observer as suitable for the settling of this question 

 of the bactericidal power of this secretion. The result was absolutely 

 negative, even when such an inofifensive saprophyte as the Cocco- 

 hacillus prodigiosus was used. The autopurification of the vagina 

 ^ Ann. de VlnsU Pasteur^ Paris, 1901, t xv, p. 842. 



