Pathogenesis, Symptoms. 753 



°\. ^^f.Jf'g^"^- By pressure on the anterior wall of the clitoris a drop of yellow- 

 ish, thick, odorless mucus may be squeezed out from the follicular cavity, which 

 contains diplococci in pure cultures. The specific changes never attack the cervix 

 or the uterine mucous membrane, _ and that aftected animals frequently fail to 

 conceive may be explained thus that during copulation the pressure of the penis on 

 the hypersensitive nerve endings of the inflamed clitoris, -and the vulva, causes 

 by reflex action the os to be drawn upwards and to close. Mostly, however, steril- 

 ity, as well as abortion,' is caused by a coexisting uterine catarrh (fluor albus), 

 .which exists independently of the specific affection of the vagina. 



According to the histological examinations of Thorns, the nodules of the 

 mucous membrane, especially in the surrounding parts of the clitoj-is, represent 

 principally club-shaped, thickened papillae of the already normally strongly devel- 

 oped T)apillary body, while in other parts the nodules develop from one or more 

 follicles, which cause a profusion of the surface of the mucous membrane. After 

 recovery from the vaginal catarrh the follicles gradually retrogress, but they -persist 

 in part, although in somewhat less definite form. Therefore recovery from the dis- 

 ease is not necessarily connected with the entire disaj^earance of the nodules. 



Symptoms. The incubation period of infectious vaginitis is, 

 after artificial Infections, according to Ostertag, 2 to 3 days, 

 according to Hess 20 to 72 hours, after coitus usually 3 to 5 days, 

 sometimes, however, only 24 hours (Raebiger). 



The disease commences with a moderate swelling of the 

 vulva, and diffuse spotted, or streaked reddening, further swell- 

 ing, formation of folds and increased sensitiveness of the vaginal 

 mucous membrane, when a muco-purulent secretion collects on 

 the surface. In from 1 to 2 days millet seed to half of a hemp 

 seed sized, more rarely even somewhat larger, smooth nodules 

 at first dark red and easily bleeding, appear on the mucous 

 membrane of the vestibule of the vagina, especially on the 

 clitoris and on the folds of its prepuce, as well as in the im- 

 mediate surroundings. They appear especially sharply promi- 

 nent by side411iimination, forming dense clumps in the vicinity 

 of the clitoris, on the lateral walls of the vestibule of the vagina, 

 however, they are arranged in sagittal rows (Plate VIII), and 

 by stroking the mucous membrane with the fingers they are 

 easily palpable. The tissue of the mucous membrane lying be- 

 tween the nodules shows a diffuse or pad-like swelling and a 

 reddish-yellow discoloration as a result of edematous infiltra- 

 tion. 



According to Hess the first changes on the vaginal mucous membrane consist 

 in slightly elevated, red points, which change inside of 24-72 hours to millet-seed 

 sized, pale gray, transparent vesicles. With a severe increase of the inflammatory 

 manifestations they burst after an additional 24 hours, forming very small, regular, 

 superficial, rapidly coalescing minute ulcerations. Meanwhile the pnucous mem- 

 brane is covered with a tenacious, muco-purulent discharge, and only after its 

 disappearance do the highly reddened nodules become prominent on the mucosa, 

 which in part is still bare of epithelia. The nodules therefore are not to be viewed 

 as primary, but as the terminal stage of the process. The vesicular state, how- 

 ever, may pass unnoticed on account of its short duration; on the other hand, the 

 described stages may be altogether absent, and the affection manifest itself only in 

 a diffuse catarrhal, or catarrhal purulent inflammation. On account of the develop- 

 ment of the process from primary vesicles and the protracted course, the author 

 considers, in agreement with several Swiss veterinarians, that the disease is a severe 

 form of vesicular exanthema. Nielsen is also inclined to accept the view that the 

 vesicular eruption represents only an acute form of follicular vaginitis, as he suc- 

 ceeded in producing an acute vesicle formation with the mucous from cows with 

 chronic nodular vaginitis. Jiiterbock, however, failed to observe in 4,000 cases, 

 vesicles on the vaginal mucous membrane in a single instance. 



Vol. 1— 48. 



