Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Diseases of women / by Alfred Lewis Galabin. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.
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![rowing the cervix, and afterwards cured it again by the use of dilating bougies. This appears to be as positive evidence of obstructive dysmenorrheca as can be expected. Treatment.—The treatment of the various morbid conditions, inflammation, fibroid tumours, and the like, which may cause dysmenorrhea, has already been described. It only remaius here to discuss the palliative treatment during the attack of pain, and the treatment of those cases in which no very definite lesion, except perhaps a slight leucorrhoea, can be discovered. The former will first be considered. An essential point is to enjoin the avoidance of all exertion, and, if pain is severe, the horizontal position should be maintained during the period. In conges- tive dysmenorrhoea saline purgatives should be given just before the period, at which time there is often a tendency to constipation, and full doses of bromide of potassium are useful. In all cases the hot hip-bath, or the whole bath, in which the patient should remain for as much as half an hour, affords much relief. Hot applications to the hypogastrium have a similar effect, and hot water with mustard to the feet, followed by rest and warmth in bed, is also useful. Cold should always be avoided, and the wearing of woollen drawers is generally desirable, if the patient is not kept to her bed. Considerable alleviation may also be procured by diffusible stimulants and the milder sedatives. Among the former may be mentioned ether and ammonia, one or both of which may be given with the liquor anrrnoniae acetatis.* One of the most efficacious is the favourite domestic remedy of giu in hot water, which tends to increase the flow, as well as to diminish pain, but, for obvious reasons, much caution is necessary in recommending it. Essence of ginger in hot water may be used as a substitute. Among the most useful sedatives are antipyrin, hyoscyamus or belladonna, * Sp. vEthcris Sulphuriei, nixxx.; Sp. Chlorofornii, ixv.; laq. Ammonia Acotatis, 5ss.; A], ad 5j-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21511603_0514.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
