Case of inversion of the uterus after parturition, proving fatal in eighteen months : with a tabular statement of the results of cases treated by operation / by John Gregory Forbes.

  • Forbes, John Gregory.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Case of inversion of the uterus after parturition, proving fatal in eighteen months : with a tabular statement of the results of cases treated by operation / by John Gregory Forbes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    4/32 (page 2)
    adjacent parts, and experienced no uneasiness in passing water. On the 4th of December Dr. Lee made a digital examination, and detected a tumour projecting through the os uteri into the vagina for upwards of two inches. It was of a somewhat pyramidal shape, and its base, measuring in its transverse diameter about an inch and a half, was em¬ braced, though not constricted, by the os, and seemed to be so intimately connected with it at all points of its circum¬ ference, that no neck could be traced. Its surface was perfectly smooth, and its consistence rather softer than that of the common uterine polypus. Some trifling haemorrhage followed the examination. Dr. Lee expressed his conviction that the case was one of inverted uterus, and advised strict rest in the recumbent posture till after the next catamenial period, then near at hand, with the employment of cold lotions and ice, if necessary, to restrain the haemorrhage. The result of this examination led to a communication with Dr. Prothero, the lady’s medical attendant in the country, who kindly transmitted to me the following particulars of her labour, and the history of the case while under his care :—The labour proceeded well under natural presentation for fourteen hours, when the pains nearly left her. The os uteri being fully dilated and yielding, a dose of ergot was given and repeated in an hour. This had its full effect, and in about two hours the head had descended into the pelvis; but the case now became complicated by a loop of the funis slipping down in advance of it. With the view of saving the life of the child, the forceps, as soon as they could be procured, were applied, but though the delivery was easily effected, it was dead. The placenta was expelled in a few minutes, no traction being necessary, and the uterus con¬ tracted well. The funis was of natural length. After the lapse of an hour some haemorrhage took place, and the patient became very faint; but a medical gentleman then in charge of her stated, that before he left her, all bleeding had ceased, that the uterus was firmly contracted, and that everything was right. She passed a comfortable night, and for the next three days all went on satisfactorily. The