VAGINITIS. 241 



VAGINITIS, INFLAMMATION OF THE LINING MEM- 

 BRANE OF THE VAGINA. 



This form of infiammatiou may exist independently of the 

 adjacent parts, but in the mare it is one of rare occurrence; and 

 even assuming that for any period it has affected that part of the 

 genital canal only, it speedih" extends to the OS of the womb and 

 the internal lining membrane of that organ; when the origin of 

 the inflammation is the vagina it usually arises as the result of 

 protracted labor or the irritation set up by the use of instruments 

 and ropes in effecting delivery mechanicallj^; the more general 

 seat of origin of this inflammatory condition is the womb when 

 endo-metrifis or inflammation of the lining membrane of the womb 

 is present and extends therefrom to the vagina; a still more serious 

 condition is that of metritis which includes an inflammation of the 

 tissues of the walls of the womb as well as the lining membrane; 

 this latter condition will be considered specially further on, as its 

 consequences ma}^ be immediately serious; the more simple forms 

 of inflammation, vaginitis and endo-metrilis, are in themselves 

 important and deserve notice, as their existence usually results in 

 the production of a discharge commonly called leiicorrhcea, which 

 in its early stages is a secretion composed of mucus, and if this is 

 not arrested by suitable remedial measures, both constitutional 

 and topical, it rapidh^ assumes a graver character b}' the addition 

 therewith of blood and pus. The consequences of this condition 

 are serious to the breeder as to them may be traced the fact that 

 so many mares prove barren, the secretion being of an acrid char- 

 acter destro3's the active elements (spermatozoa) of the semen of 

 the horse; this disease when originating in the uterus may be due 

 to the same causes as those enumerated under simple vaginitis or 

 to abortion or miscarriage; moreover if pregnancy is effected, 

 notwithstanding the presence of this leucorrJuva, it maj^ also result 

 in abortion; it will therefore be quite clear that it is very import- 

 ant, especially in the case of valuable mares kept solel}' for breed- 

 ing, to watch for the presence of this discharge before the timxC of 

 CESTRUM (coming into use), otherwise it may be easily overlooked. 



The first thing to observe in treatment is cleanliness, and the 

 best method of ensuring this is to freely wash out the canal and 

 womb with a tepid solution of Corrosive sublimate consisting of 

 16 



