The patient must lie down on a hard bed, and abstain from all stimulating food and drinks. The room should be cool and she should be lightly covered with bedclothes. Soak the feet in warm water, and if the flowing is excessive apply cloths wrung out in vinegar and water to the lower bowels. The hips must be elevated higher than the head. Only in extreme cases should plugging be resorted to. This may be done by pieces of linen, about four inches square, thrust into the vagina until it is full, and a bandage applied between the legs. Cold hip baths and vaginal injections of cold water will be beneficial when the hemorrhage is slight.
| Use also the following: | |
| Diluted sulphuric acid, | Two drams; |
| Syrup of orange peel, | Two ounces; |
| Cinnamon water, | One ounce. |
Mix. Dose: A teaspoonful in a wineglassful of water two or three times a day.
If there is much pain administer the following every two or three hours:
| Morphia, | Quarter grain; |
| Cayenne, | Four grains; |
| Rosin, | Four grains. |
Mix. Give in blackberry syrup.
PAINFUL MENSTRUATION—MENSTRUAL COLIC—DYSMENORRHEA.
Dysmenorrhea means a difficult monthly flow, and is always preceded by severe pains in the back and lower part of the abdomen. It is caused by taking cold during the period; fright, violent mental emotions, obstinate constipation, sedentary occupations, smallness of the mouth and neck of the womb. Females subject to this trouble are generally relieved by marriage. The symptoms are severe bearing-down pains in the region of the uterus, like labor pains; restlessness, coldness, flashes of heat, with headache; aching in the small of the back, lower part of the abdomen, and thighs; the discharge is scanty, and contains shreds of fiber and clotted blood.
TREATMENT.
The patient should immediately go to bed and cover up warmly. Stimulating food and drinks should be avoided. Use a warm foot bath and sitting-bath, with hot poultices of hops or cloths wet in hot water applied to the abdomen.