Treatise on the nature and cure of prolapsus uteri, and other affections of the pelvic viscera / by Robert Thompson.
- Thompson, Robert, 1797-1865
- Date:
- 1838
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Treatise on the nature and cure of prolapsus uteri, and other affections of the pelvic viscera / by Robert Thompson. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![quently enjoined by the necessity of the circumstances, do in some instances work cures, cannot be denied by any one; nor can the most able eidvocatcs of the pessary, while they consider relaxation of the sub-uterine structures as entering largely into the cause of the disease, find a more satisfactory solution for the question under consideration. But, as the propriety of using the pessary, as well as the material, fashion, and size to be preferred, is a matter upon which every practitioner must decide for himself, I would here dismiss this part of the subject. Another method of cure has been proposed, which consists in causing adhesion of the sides of the vaginal canal; [Hamiltoii] but as this would be a cruel as well as a difficult remedy, it has not been brought into use, and can only be considered as a mat- ter of evidence, emanating from high authority, of the grievous nature of the affection it was intended to remedy, as well as the inefficiency of the pessary method of treatment in general use. The same remarks are applicable to the operation of episioraphy* proposed by Dr. Frick, by which operation the labia are caused to adhere in a great portion of their extent. Of the success or extent of this practice, this writer possesses no knowledge. Of the various external means of cure which have been offered to the profession, Dr. Hamilton's apparatus may be mentioned first, as it has been used advantageously by that celebrated pro- fessor for many years. His improvement grew out of his objec- tions to the pessary, which arc, 1st, They can only act as palliatives whatever may be the de- gree of disease. 2d, They necessarily keep up a constant irritation of the vagi- na, and of course a mucous discharge from this passage. 3d, They are apt to make injurious impressions on the contig- uous parts. 4th, They become encrusted with a calcareous and highly irri- tating matter, if not frequently taken out and cleaned. 5th, No ordinary pessary can be retained in cases connected with laceration of the perinseum. And * See Dewees on Females, pp. 238, 339.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21159294_0011.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
