A practical treatise on the diseases peculiar to women : illustrated by cases, derived from hospital and private practice / by Samuel Ashwell, M.D.

  • Samuel Ashwell
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A practical treatise on the diseases peculiar to women : illustrated by cases, derived from hospital and private practice / by Samuel Ashwell, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the progress of the treatment ; and the hope of cure must rest, not on the vigilance of a week, but on the perseverance and skill which shall keep in activity, for months, every part of the prescribed plan; not only the medicinal but, likewise that which depends on air, regimen, and active exercise. I do not dwell on the value of travelling ; because it is universally ad- mitted, that nothing contributes more to cheerfulness and health, than change of scene, of air, and temperature. Chaly- beate waters are frequently eflicaciously employed; and a sea voyage has, within my own knowledge, been productive of entire cure, not only completing puberty but leading to perfect menstruation—At what time shall emmenagogues be em- ployed? When the health is so far improved, that there is less pallor, regularity of bowels, and more and better blood. Iron itself is often an efficient emmenagogue. The use, every night, of the hip mustard-bath and the local salt shower-bath across the loins, topically affects the uterus, and induces the catamenial secretion. The ammoniacal injection, composed of one drachm of the pure liquor ammonie to a pint of milk, daily injected into the vagina, has proved efficient in the hos- pital practice. I am not aware that any variation in this plan will be re- quired in chlorosis complicated with amenorrhea. Caution will be most needed in the selection of the time for the use of emmenagogues: but after what has now been said, and what may hereafter be advanced, the reader cannot remain long in doubt. The iodide of iron has been extensively tried, both in hos- pital and private practice, and with undoubted success; espe- cially when glandular enlargements and other indications of a strumous habit have been associated with the chlorosis. I give it in the subjoined form : Ferri Iodidi gr. xvi. Tinct. Calumbze vel Gent. C. 3]. Aque distillatee zvij. ft. Mist. Sumat coch. ii. magna, bis terve quo- tidie. Three or four leeches have been applied to the mamme, on alternate days, but with very doubtful effect as to the resto- ration of the menstrual function; nor can I speak more fa-