The London practice of midwifery : to which are added, instructions for the treatment of lying-in women, and the principal diseases of children, chiefly designed for students and early practitioners.

Date:
1820
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The London practice of midwifery : to which are added, instructions for the treatment of lying-in women, and the principal diseases of children, chiefly designed for students and early practitioners. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    violent purging, but a gentle increased action of the bowels; by this we lessen the appetite, which is ano- ther object gained; and it does not allow the food to remain so long in the stomach, while part of the cir- culating fluids is evacuated by the increased secretion we have produced into the intestines. By this mode of treatment being: pursued, it will generally happen that monorrhagia shall be restrained ; but if it should not, it will be necessary to apply local remedies, such as folded cloths dipped in equal parts of vinegar and water, cold, which are to be applied to the abdomen and pubes, and renewed very frequently, in the man- ner practised with common fomentation. Another successful method of checking the disorder is the ap- plication of ice to the abdomen, permitting it to dis- solve : a small piece of ice wrapped in the corner of a napkin introduced into the vagina, and retained there for a few minutes, has been known to succeed most completely. The next state of increased menstruation is from re- laxation of the system. This will sometimes arise from increased action, which we have remarked will often degenerate into a weakened state ; and the effect of great action is the production of great weakness. There is a languid pulse, flabbiness of muscles, with all the symptoms of weakness and relaxation of vessels ; and a very small force of action in the heart will be equal to the forcing of blood through an open vessel. All the strengthening medicines as well as astringents will be necessary here; alum and bitters : and where there is nothing of a vibrating feel in the pulse, steel may be given. But sometimes, when the profuse dis- charge depends on relaxation of vessels, steel will in- crease the discharge; yet where there is no fever, it is one of the best remedies. Next comes the cold bath, and moderate exercise in a pure air. In regard to steel, it must be given very gradually