The treatment of pelvic inflammations through the vagina.

  • Pryor, William Rice, 1857 or 1858-1904.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treatment of pelvic inflammations through the vagina. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    infection may take place at any time, but it is most apt to occur during menstruation, when the uterine epithe- lium is exfoliated. Several days elapse, as a rule, between the onset and the appearance of pus. The pus is produced in great quantities, as much as several ounces in twenty- four hours. It is tinged with blood in nearly all cases, so deep is the congestion. The body temperature is ele- vated^ but rarely goes to 103° F. The pulse is accelerated up to 110 in the worst cases. The symptoms subside slowly, but the purulent discharge continues for some time, and, as a rule, the case becomes chronic. Rarely does a cure occur without treatment, and complications are very common. The uterus in the acute stage is en- larged ; but after repeated attacks it may become little more than a mass of fibrous tissue, being hard and small. Such uteri we find in old prostitutes. Women with acute gonorrheal endometritis take to bed. The suffering is continuous, and the pain is marked by sharp exacerba- tions— uterine colic. The course of an attack persists through one or two weeks and results in either a chronic condition or some grave coriiplication. Diag-nosis.—There will usually be found other evi- dences of gonorrhea, such as urethritis or vulvitis. A woman previously well suddenly attacked with acute endometritis a few days after connection probably has gonorrhea. By far the greater number of such cases of acute endometritis which do not occur after abortion or labor are due to gonorrhea. Indeed, I am warranted in saying that gonorrhea is a disease of the non-pregnant uterus, while sepsis is most frequently found to follow conception. The temperature, the great pain in the uterus, the profuse purulent discharge, the excoriations produced in the cervix and vagina by the pus, the presence of other evidences of clap will render the diagnosis clear. In all cases the gonococcus is found. Treatment—]Sr<ni-Operative.—The vulva and vagina, if infected, should be painted with silver nitrate solution, gr. XX to oz. j. With a sharp bistoury the cervix is