Persistent Hymen 171 



vagina with Hienstrual debris is inevitable. So far as I 

 have observed, the imperforate hymen can not be ruptured 

 by the male. It is imperforate and persistent because ab- 

 normally thick and tough. 



I have observed in a filly a persistence of the lower por- 

 tion of the hymen, constituting a cul-de-sac which ended at 

 the anterior margin of the urethra and sloped upward and 

 backward as a crescent-shaped partition open at the top. 

 It was attempted to breed her to a very large stallion. After 

 several unsuccessful efforts my advice was sought. 



Upon introducing my hand, I promptly encountered a 

 broad band stretched transversely and sloping forward and 

 downward. Pushing my hand along the lower surface of 

 the membranous partition, I found that the urethral open- 

 ing formed the fundus of a great cul-de-sac. The urethra 

 was so greatly dilated that it readily admitted my hand. 

 Apparently it had been dilated by the penis of the stallion. 

 Searching higher up, I found the hymen was not imperfor- 

 ate; there was a large opening at the vaginal roof. The 

 groom was advised to be on the alert at the next effort at 

 coitus and push the penis of the stallion upward just at it 

 entered the vulva. The filly conceived. 



The case reports of persistent hymen which have inter- 

 fered with parturition are probably largely based upon di- 

 agnostic error. Instead of persistent hymen there was 

 probably a persistent portion of the median walls of the 

 ducts of Mueller, a condition just short of a double vagina. 

 Such remnant is resistant enough to readily cause dystocia. 

 Many appear to think erroneously of any band passing 

 across the vagina as "persistent hymen". The persistent 

 median wall is far more common than the persistent hymen. 

 The condition has been discussed above. 



The persistent hymen which is perforate usually has but 

 little significance. The imperforate hymen has little peril 

 for the life and general health of the patient unless over- 

 looked until the vagina is tensely filled with menstrual de- 

 bris. When, as in the heifer described above, both vagina 

 and uterus are greatly distended with pus, there is ground 

 for serious fear that breeding life is at an end. 



