Inflammation of the Vagina.

This may be produced by many of the same causes which induce inflammation of the uterine neck. It may follow tedious child bearing, especially if instruments have been used. Marriage is not an infrequent cause of it, so may a pessary be, if an improper one.
The Symptoms are pain in the groins, a feeling of beat and tightness in the passage, and a difficulty in passing water. In a few days a discharge, like gum water, begins to flow, which gradually becomes thicker, like cream, and is green or yellow. Sometimes the disease gets well in a few days; at other times it degenerates into the chronic forms, and lasts a long time. It should be cured as soon as possible, lest the inflammation cause the wars of the passage to grow together, and make a stricture, as in Fig. 142.
In this Figure, b represents the mouth of the womb; a is the lower entrance to a narrow passage in the vagina, called a stricture. It is caused by inflammation, which so thickens the walls of the vagina as to bring their inner surfaces near together. In examining a case of this sort, a practitioner needs to be on his guard lest he mistake the entrance to the stricture, A, for the mouth of the womb, B, a mistake which might lead to evil consequences as well as seriously damage his professional character.

Treatment. The diet should be light and unirritating. The bowels should be kept open. A cooling wash (207), (218), should be. used several times a day, until the discharge becomes thick; then employ injections (232), (202), (244), (243), of a more astringent nature. Let the marriage bed be abandoned till the recovery is complete.
When the discharge arises from small granular elevations upon the inner surface of the vagina, the whole diseased surface should be painted over with a solution of nitrate of silver, two grains to the ounce of water, the disease being brought to view by the use of a speculum. This may be done every other day.