Upon the constitutional causes of uterine catarrh : with notes of personal observations. / A graduation thesis by Mary Edith Pechey presented to the Medical Faculty of the University of Bern ; and accepted by the Faculty on the report of Dr. Peter Muller.

  • Pechey-Phipson, Edith, 1845-1908.
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Upon the constitutional causes of uterine catarrh : with notes of personal observations. / A graduation thesis by Mary Edith Pechey presented to the Medical Faculty of the University of Bern ; and accepted by the Faculty on the report of Dr. Peter Muller. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    completing a permanent cure until tliis bad tendency is overcome, and that by change of diet and habits, not by the persistent use of purgatives. The constant collection of masses of hardened faeces in the rectum presses injuriously upon the uterus itself, acts as a mechanical irritant to the uterine substance, and exercises com- pression upon the venous trunks of the pelvis, thus hindering the return of blood from the pelvic organs and lower limbs, and causing congestion. Congestion of the uterus leads to menorrhagia, catarrh, hyperplasia, or metritis, with all their attendant evils. One of the first questions to be asked after the application of suitable local remedies in uterine catarrh is as to the state of the bowels. In 60 per cent, of the cases the patient will complain of habitual constipation. The cause of this should be enquired into, and, if necessary, written instructions should be given her as to the manage- ment of herself in this respect. This injurious habit not un- frequenlly arises in the first place from the forcible retention of the fmces, a practice only too common amongst women of all classes. The rectum in time becomes stretched and capable of retaining the secretions of days or even weeks without much apparant discom- fort. As the size of the pelvis remains stationary it is evident that this distension must take place at the expense of the remaining structures, and that injurious compression wiU be exercised upon the uterus and venous plexuses of the pelvis. In these cases it should be carefully impressed upon the patient that the bowels must be moved daily and at a regular hour,—'say, soon after break- fast,—nor must she relax in her efforts till this habit is confirmed : and this must be accomplished in all cases without having recourse to purgatives; a glass of plain water or soda water taken the last thing at night or the first thing in the morning being generally a sufficient laxative. The abdominal walls are often deficient in muscular power in women who take no exercise, and especially is this the case with pluriparm where the muscles have been stretched in frequent pregnancies. This may prove a cause of deficient evacuation, but may be remedied by exercise or friction :—the old wives’ cure of soaping the abdomen over night being not without a beneficial effect in these circumstances. The use of dietary sub- stances which arc supposed to retard the metamorphosis of the