A treatise on the diseases of females / By William P. Dewees.

  • Dewees, William P. (William Potts), 1768-1841.
Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the diseases of females / By William P. Dewees. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    27/572 (page 27)
    EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ORGANS. may also be observed, that suppurations of the labia are attended with more than a usual degree of fcetor; this may be owing to the very cellular construction of them; this tissue dying more easily when much accumulated, than when in more spare pro- portions. We may also add, that they granulate more slowly than many other portions of the body, from the same cause. From the looseness of the texture of some of these parts, especially the nymphse and labia, they become sometimes very much enlarged, from very slight irritations. When there has been a neglect of proper cleanliness, the natural secretions be- come acrid from stagnation, and produce an itching, which is very slight at first, but increases by the indulgence of scratch- ing; and if this be persisted in, the parts become inflamed, and sometimes swell inordinately, but does no mischief, if not too long persevered in. This happens especially with those who have a dread of water after the catamenial discharge; and who neglect to wash themselves after these purgations. On this ac- count, it is important that the parts should be daily washed with warm water, particularly during the flow, and immediately af- ter the menses have ceased; or if the woman be subject to floor albus. The prejudices of some women on the subject of wash- ing, should be removed, by the practitioner making it a point to recommend its frequent use, when consulted on these diseases. Sect. L—Of Tumours and Excrescences of the External Parts. m Some parts of the external organs, are more liable to tumours and excrescences than others; thus, the labia and nymphse are more frequently the seats of these affections than other por- tions of the vestibulum. The nymphas appear more obnoxious to indurations and excrescences, than even the labia; and they are especially so, when they are sufficiently long to protrude beyond the labia.