6i4 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



6. Cervical Infections 



A. Cervicitis 



A careful study of the anatomy of the bovine cervix, as 

 described on page 33 and illustrated by Figs. 15 and 16, 

 shows it to be an extremely complex organ, admirably 

 adapted, at first glance, to act as an important barrier be- 

 tween the copulatory segment of the genital tube — the 

 vagina — and the nutritive area in which the embryo is 

 destined to develop — the uterus. If, however, infection 

 gains a foothold within its intricate mucous folds, what 

 appears at first as a highly efficient barrier becomes a very 

 serious hiding-place for bacteria. The cervix is one of the 

 most important areas of the entire genital system in re- 

 lation to serious infections. The cervix of the cow rarely 

 fails after two or more pregnancies to show at its vaginal 

 end clinically visible lesions. The changes are so nearly 

 universal that the milder types of disease constitute the 

 "normal" cervix of anatomists. The vaginal end of the 

 cervix of the ordinary virgin heifer sh'^uld, I believe, be 

 taken as the standard for that part of the organ and any 

 material departure from that type regarded as pathologic. 



Prior to pregnancy the cervix of the heifer has received 

 little clinical study. It is difficult to bring it into convenient 

 position for visual inspection without using an undesirable 

 amount of force. Until the heifer has failed to conceive 

 after repeated coitus, she is assumed to be free from genital 

 disease. After such failure to conceive, if a veterinarian 

 makes an examination, he frequently finds the cervix dis- 

 eased. As a rule, however, the disease has not notably 

 modified the vaginal end of the cervix, so far as can be seen, 

 the exterior appearing sound, but disease of the deeper parts 

 of the cervix is recognized by instrumental examination of 

 the cervical canal. After the termination of pregnancy by 

 parturition or abortion, changes occur in the vaginal end of 

 the cervix, readily seen upon clinical examination, which 

 profoundly alter its appearance and character. The most 

 striking changes are delineated in Fig. 194, in which it is 



