Curettage, followed by the use of gauze dressings, might also be tried; considerable difficulty must necessarily be anticipated in operating in a cavity which has become inextensible and partly filled with vegetations and false membranes.
CHRONIC VAGINITIS.
Chronic vaginitis usually represents the last stage of some form of acute vaginitis, though it occasionally develops in a slow and progressive fashion as a primary condition in consequence of some deep-seated genital lesion. There is usually a constant discharge of irritant material.
The symptoms are not very striking, and are purely local.
Externally all that can be detected is a continuous or, much more frequently, an intermittent muco-purulent discharge from the vulva, which occurs only on urination, defæcation, coughing, etc.
Locally, examination with a speculum discloses the fact that the mucous membrane is of a greyish colour, thickened, less yielding than usual, and in places sclerosed. The entire thickness of the mucous membrane is affected, as also at times the muscular tissue, chronic irritation having caused sclerosis.
The diagnosis is very simple, and the prognosis of no particular gravity, because the animals can always be fattened. The condition is only grave as regards animals intended for breeding.
Treatment is often very successful, but, as in all chronic diseases, it extends over a considerable time. Practically it is not often attempted. It does not differ greatly from that of ordinary acute vaginitis, but the best results seem to follow the use of astringents.
METRITIS.
Infectious or traumatic diseases of the uterus are of the greatest importance in bovine pathology, both on account of their frequency and gravity. They comprise septic metritis, acute metritis, and chronic metritis.