On extirpation of the enlarged clitoris see Heister’s Surgery (ii, 5, 147). The cauda pudendi was probably the cauliflower excrescence of the os uteri described by late authorities on midwifery.
SECT. LXXI.—ON THYMI, CONDYLOMATA, AND HEMORRHOIDS ABOUT THE FEMALE PARTS OF GENERATION.
The thymus is an excrescence sometimes red, but sometimes white, for the most part without pain, and resembling the clusters of thyme. The condylomata are rugose protuberances; and the hemorrhoids resemble those about the anus, and, like them, sometimes pour forth blood. Such excrescences in women, when brought into view and exposed, are to be seized with a forceps and cut out with the point of a half-spatula. And we are then to use pounded galls, or fissile alum. For the more distinguished surgeons do not approve of ligatures in these cases.
Commentary. Aëtius gives a fuller account of these tubercles. He recommends us to seize them with a forceps and cut them out by the roots. He directs us not to interfere with such hemorrhoids of the womb as are varicose and malignant. Those which are hard and do not bleed are to be cut out at once, but such as are disposed to bleed are to be seized with a forceps and a ligature put round them before they are cut. Moschion, however, condemns this practice as being highly dangerous.
Albucasis evidently copies from our author. (Chirurg. ii, 73.)
Haly Abbas briefly directs us to seize these tubercles with a forceps and cut them out with a pair of scissors. (Pract. ix, 65.)
Rhases, treating of diseases of the uterus, says, “if there be a red piece of flesh in the mouth of the womb, if situated at its anterior part, and if it be round, or long, and not attended with pain, some surgeons cut it off, but I prefer tying it.” (Cont. xxii.) This description seems to apply to polypus of the womb.
See a full account of the condylomata and hemorrhoids of the womb, by Lodovicus Mercatus (in the Gynæcia, p. 962.) He remarks that Celsus and Aëtius call any tubercle arising from inflammation by the name of condyloma, whereas Paulus applies the term only to callous tubercles of the uterus. He approves of seizing them with a forceps and cutting them out.