The application of the bandage round the whole belly, with a moderate degree of firmness, often gives great relief to the uneasy feelings. The T bandage has also been worn in this case with considerable advantage.
If a woman liable to falling down of the womb, become pregnant, there is no occasion for the pessary after the third month, and by proper treatment after delivery, the return of the complaint may be prevented.
MISCARRIAGE OR ABORTION.
We now come to the consideration of a subject, in respect to which there exists much misapprehension and ignorance, causing useless and unnecessary alarm and anxiety to those who may be so unfortunate as to be subject, at particular periods of gestation, to abortion or miscarriage.
The dangers of abortion or miscarriage are often magnified and exaggerated. It is dangerous if produced by a fall, a blow, a kick from a horse, or any other external bodily violence or injury, causing internal contusion, or rupture of some blood-vessels; and, also, but not to the same extent, if produced by sudden fright, violent fits of passion, &c., or from general debility or disease of the uterus; but the danger arises more from the cause which produces the miscarriage, than from the miscarriage itself; as it is well known by those versed in obstetrics that, where it is deemed indispensable to effect a miscarriage, either because of the existence of a deformed pelvis, diseased uterus, or other causes, if skilfully effected, it is attended with no danger, especially in the earlier stages of pregnancy.[[43]]
Symptoms.
When miscarriage is about to take place, its first symptoms are generally occasional stinging pains at the bottom of the belly, extending across and around the loins and hips; a feeling of fatigue of the legs, pain in the forehead, burning sensation of the eyes. The breasts, which before were distended, become soft and flabby, hot and cold flashes, attended with thirst, fever, and shiverings. In a day or two after the appearance of these symptoms, a discharge from the womb takes place of yellow matter, tinctured with red. If not arrested at this stage, the pains across the loins become more severe and frequent, attended with a sense of dead weight, and bearing down about the womb, the water is discharged, and the expulsion of the contents of the womb takes place. The symptoms of miscarriage, however, vary with the causes which produce them, or the state of habit, age, or health of the patient; some recovering immediately, and rapidly, and with but little inconvenience. Where miscarriage arises from a serious accident, such as violent falls, bruises, &.c., the symptoms are somewhat aggravated, and more severe, and are often preceded and accompanied with violent and profuse floodings and discharges of coagula, in addition to the other symptoms; although moderate flowing is not an unfrequent symptom in miscarriages.
It is always accompanied with two circumstances, separation of the membranous bag, and expulsive efforts or contraction of the womb itself. The first is productive of discharge, the second of pains like those of labor. Sometimes the separation or detachment of part of the conception takes place before any pain is felt; on other occasions, the pain, or contraction of the womb, takes place first, and produces a separation. In the first of these cases, the symptoms of abortion take place suddenly, and are usually occasioned by fatigue, sudden exertion, or fright. In the second, the pains come on, and there are particular feelings, and changes, which indicate that a miscarriage is likely to take place; as, for instance, the cessation of the morning sickness, the subsidence of the breasts, &c.
Miscarriage is preceded by floodings, pains in the back, loins, and lower part of the abdomen, evacuation of the water, shiverings, palpitation of the heart, nausea, anxiety, fainting, subsiding of the breasts and belly, pain in the inside of the thighs, opening and moisture of the womb.