Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: First lines of the practice of physic (Volume 2). 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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![eating infection, and from the first appearance of the dis- ease not being accompanied with any inflammatory affec- tion of the pudenda.* 986.] The appearance of the' matter discharged in the leucorrhoea, is very various with repect to consistence and color ; but from these appearances, it is not always possible to determine concerning its nature, orthe particular source from whence it proceeds. 987.] The leucorrhoea, of which I am to treat, as ascer- tained by the several circumstances (985.) seems to proceed from the same causes as that species of menorrhagia which I suppose to arise from the laxity of the extreme vessels of the uterus. It accordingly often follows or accompanies such a menorrhagia; ; but though the leucorrhoea depends chiefly upon the laxity mentioned, it may have proceeded from irritations inducing that laxity, and seems to be always increased by any irritations applied to the uterus. 988.] Some authors have alleged, that a variety of cir- cumstances in other parts of the body may have a share in bringing on and in continuing this affection of the uterus now under consideration ; but I cannot discover the reality of those causes ; and it seems to me, that this leucorrhoea, excepting in so far as it depends upon a general debility of the system, is always primarily an affection of the uterus ; and the affections of other parts of the body Avhich may happen to accompany it, are for the most part to be consi- dered as effects, rather than as causes. 989.] The effects of the leucorrhoea are much the same with those of menorrhagia ; inducing a general debility, and in particular, a debility in the functions of the stomach. If, however, the leucurrhora be moderate, and be not ac- companied with any considerable degree of menorrhagia, it may often continue long without inducing any great de- gree of debility, and it is only when the discharge has been very copious as well as constant, that its effects in that way are very remarkable. 990.] Rut, even when its effects upon the whole body are not very considerable, it may stillbe supposed to weaken the * Nothing is more frequent with ignorant practitioners than to mistake a gonorrhoea for a leu- corrhoea. Women in general give the name or whites to a gonorrhoea, and therefore the unwary practitioner may the more easily be misled. The distinguishing characteristic of gonorrhoea is, as ihe Author sa.s, an inflammatory affection of the pudenda; but, as few women will suffer an m pection of the parts, we must pay some attention to the concomitant symptoms. The running in a gonoirhcca is constant, and only in small quantities ; in a leucorrhoea the discharge is inconstant, and in large quantities. The other distinguishing marks of a gonorrhoea are, smarting in making water, itching of the pudenda, increased inclination for venery, a swelling wl ihe labia and of the glands about the groin. Some authors mention the color of the discharg- ed matter as a diiunguishing mark ; this, however, isinconstant.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21112290_0015.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
