The Ætiology of Leucorrhœa in the Virgin

no glands in the vaginal epithelium?is white, cheesy, highly acid in reaction and consists of epithelial squames, Doderlein's vaginal bacilli, some transudate and lactic acid. The lactic acid, which is responsible for the high acidity, results from the breaking down of glycogen in the vaginal epithelial cells, probably by bacterial action. These conditions are found in the vagina during reproductive life, and for a short period after birth when glycogen is also present in the vagina. The deposition of glycogen there is probably controlled by the oestrogenic hormone (Cruickshank and Sharman, 1934). Leucorrhcea is a common complaint, and is most frequent in married women. Davis (1929) found, in a review of