Volume 1

A treatise on the science and practice of midwifery / by W.S. Playfair.

  • William Smoult Playfair
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the science and practice of midwifery / by W.S. Playfair. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    vaginse, where they are arranged in a circular mass, having a sphincter action. They consist of two layers—an internal longitudinal and an external circular—with oblique decus- sating fibres connecting the two. Below they are attached to the ischio-pubic rami, and above they are continuous with the muscular coat of the uterus. The muscular tissue of the vagina increases in thickness during pregnancy, but to a Its much less degree than that of the uterus. Its vascular vascular arrangements, like those of the vulva, are such as to constitute meS In erectile tissue. The arteries form an intricate network around the tube, and eventually end in a submucous capillary plexus from which twigs pass to supply the papillas; these again give origin to venous radicles which unite into meshes freely interlacing with each other, and forming a well-marked venous plexns. B^eterio- The bacteriology of the genital tract m women has of logy of the late attracted much attention inconsequence ot its mtmiate St'' connection with various important morbid conditions. In the healthy woman, both in the virgin and in the married, numerous microbes are to be found in the vagina These appear to enter from without, through the vulva. Amongst those most commonly observed are various species of staphy- lococci and streptococci, and the bacillus coli. Although these are often morphologically identical with those which _ produce purulent and septic infection their virulent properties seem to be counteracted by the acidity of the vaginal mucus, and they are practically non-pathogenic. _ Doderlein^ attributes this to the presence of a special vaginal bacillus, which has a germicidal efi-ect on the microbes in consequence of its producing lactic acid during its develop- ment. Stroganoff,^ who agrees with Doderlem, also holds that the mucus plug which is normally found m the cervix has active germicidal properties, thus preventing the access of microbes to the more deeply seated portions of the genital tract in which, as a matter of fact, they are not lound, the extelal os be^ng the boundary beyond which they do not normally pass. Walthard3 also attributes valuable safe- . Das Scneidensckret und seine Bedeutung fur das Puer,cralfieier, Leipzig, 1892. MonaLf.Geh.imdGyn. Bd. i]. 3 Deutsche, mod. Woch. October 24, 1894.