| FIG. 28. |
| Follicular Vulvitis (Huginer). |
In the follicular variety the disease is more severe and usually of longer duration than the purulent, although the principles of treatment are essentially the same. In this as in the other variety cleanliness is of paramount importance, frequent washing being very essential. To the inflamed follicles such applications as nitrate of silver, persulphate of iron, and carbolic acid are the more frequent remedies used in this disease. After the application of any of these remedies the parts should be rendered dry, and then a piece of soft linen or a roll of absorbent cotton should be smeared with vaseline or soaked with carbolized glycerin and inserted within the vulva in a way to keep the labia apart. Occasionally the practitioner will meet with a chronic form of vulvitis, and the rareness of its occurrence is fortunate, for the reason that it is a very obstinate and intractable variety of the disease. Vulvitis is very frequently associated with vaginitis, owing to the fact that the mucous membrane is continuous in both vulva and vagina. On this account the principle of treatment of inflammation of either locality is essentially the same. To avoid repetition, the reader is therefore referred to the section on Vaginitis for a more detailed description of treatment.
There is a form of this disease described by Vinay17 as ulcerous or aphthous vulvitis. This is an affection peculiar to childhood, occurring only when the general health is much impaired. It is often a sequel of fevers, and may even become epidemic. It attacks children of any age, but is of more common occurrence in infancy. The disease appears first upon the mucous membrane in the form of small and round patches of a white or grayish-white color, which soon ulcerate, and at a more advanced stage are liable to become gangrenous. This variety of vulvitis has long been known, and is mentioned in the works of Hippocrates. This disease is rarely met with in this country.
17 Nouveau Dict. de Méd., tome xxxiii., 1885.
Phlegmonous Inflammation of the Labia Majora.
DEFINITION.—The adipose and areolar tissue which compose the greater bulk of the labia majora often become the seat of acute inflammation, in consequence of direct injury, excessive or awkward coition, exposure to cold, from irritating discharges, scratching in pruritus, vulvitis, or that peculiar blood-state which predisposes to the formation of boils or carbuncles.
SYMPTOMATOLOGY AND DIAGNOSIS.—The patient will first complain of heat and pain, increased by standing or walking, and later throbbing and shooting pains in the affected parts. In the outset the part is congested, followed by induration from effusion in the loose tissues, and next suppuration ensues. An examination in the last-named stage will reveal the existence of an abscess in one labium. The diagnosis is by no means difficult, but the physician, however, should bear in mind that this same locality may be the site for pudendal hernia, a dislocated ovary, hæmatocele, or vulvitis.
TREATMENT.—In the outset the inflammation may be caused to disappear by resolution, by means of cold and sedative lotions, such as the lead-and-opium wash, saline laxatives, non-stimulating diet, and perfect rest. In the majority of cases the disease proceeds to suppuration. When it is found that resolution is unattainable, then means should be taken to promote and hasten suppuration. This is best effected by the frequent application of hot poultices. The mistake is often committed of permitting too long intervals to elapse between the application of poultices, and allowing the one applied to become cold before another one takes its place. The patient can be saved many hours of suffering by keeping hot applications constantly on the inflamed labium. As soon as suppuration is detected the abscess should be opened, for two reasons aside from the one of affording relief: First, the tissue resists early natural evacuation; second, owing to the laxity of the tissues, pus will sometimes force itself upward toward and through the abdominal ring.
Furuncles of the Labia.