The principles and practice of obstetrics / by Gunning S. Bedford.
- Gunning S. Bedford
- Date:
- 1863
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The principles and practice of obstetrics / by Gunning S. Bedford. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.
54/696 page 32
![well to remember that pruritus of the vulva varies in character; it is sometimes constant, at other times intermittent. You will occasionally observe it to precede for a few days the menstrual flow, and then pass off with it. The causes of this affection are numerous, such as the final cessation or suppression of the menses; neglect of personal cleanliness; indolent habits; plethora; excessive heat of the season ; excessive fatigue; scrofula, giving rise to an acrid and irritating vaginal secretion; and, under some circumstances, pregnancy will produce it. The symptoms are characterized by intense itching, rendering the patient wretched, and a burden to herself. She seeks relief by scratching, which is some- times carried to such an extent as to occasion ulceration. The diag- nosis is not difficult. Care, however, must be exercised not to confound the ulceration with venereal chancres, which might possibly be done by an inattentive physician. Treatment.—This will vary with the cause to which the pruritus is traceable. In the present instance, the irritation is, I think, dependent upon the final cessation of the menses, and the consequent plethora of the system. The patient should lose from the arm 3 viij of blood; and the subjoined powder administered to-night R Sub Mur. Hydrarg. Pulv. Jalapae .... Pulv. Antimonial . Ft. pulv. followed in the morning by gr. x gr. xv R- Infus. Sennae § vj Sulphat. Magnesia? 3 ij Tinct. Jalapae . 3 i Mannae 3 ss M. The diet to be exclusively vegetable; the parts to be washed twice a day with castile soap and water. The following lotion should be freely used: ]J Sulphat. Aluminis 3 ij Aquae puree .... § xvi Ft. sol. We have often found great benefit from bathing the parts with a strong solution of borax. The following local application deservedly ranks high ; it is one of tht» most reliable and efficacious in use: R Amyl 3v Camphorae 3j M The parts to be sprinkled with this powder once a day ; observing the precaution to wash them each time the application of the powder is renewed. This was a favorite remedy of Lisfranc.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21034357_0054.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
