"The treatment consists in first attending strictly to the diet, which must be light and unirritating, and to the regular action of the bowels and womb; and in using the cooling washes and lotions before mentioned. If the itching still continues, use either of the following washes to the parts:—Sub. carbonate of potash three drachms, water four ounces; put a tea-spoonful of this into a quart of warm water, and use it three times a day.—A tea-spoonful of Eau de Cologne to a pint of warm water.—Sulphate of Zinc, half a tea-spoonful to a quart of warm water. Both these may be used many times in the day.—Borax half an ounce, Sulphate of Morphia six grains; pure water half a pint. This last seldom fails of giving relief. It should be applied three or four times a day, with a piece of soft linen, the parts being first washed with warm soap and water. A tea-spoonful of laudanum will sometimes answer as well as the six grains of Sulphate of Morphia.
"Caustic has been employed, and blisters to the inside of the thighs, but such violent remedies are seldom either necessary or serviceable. I have known the parts to be deeply scarified with the lancet, and even burnt with a red hot iron, without at all alleviating the pruritus.
"In young persons it seems to be often produced by constipation, worms, and gravel; but it most probably depends, essentially, on some impurity, or irritating quality, in the blood, or in the natural secretions of the parts, which should therefore never be allowed to remain long unwashed.
"Sitting in cold water, and the application of ice to the parts, has given relief. I have also effected many cures, almost instantaneously, by means of a small Galvanic plate, so constructed as to be worn just within the vulva.
"All remedies must of course be applied with caution during pregnancy; and it must be recollected that sometimes the disease will continue, more or less, till after delivery, though the distress from it may be much alleviated."
CHAPTER XXVII.
IDIOPATHIC, OR PRIMARY DISEASES INCIDENT TO PREGNANCY.
FLOODING, OR HEMORRHAGE.
Flooding is one of the most dangerous accidents that occur during pregnancy, its consequences being often of the most serious character. The causes that lead to flooding are very numerous, some of them predisposing to it, and others immediately exciting it. Among these may be mentioned a too full habit, violent exertion, falls, coughing, vomiting, straining from costiveness or violent purgatives, forcing medicines, criminal attempts at abortion, overwalking, blows on the abdomen, too much dancing, or running up stairs, strong mental emotions, fright, or anger, and certain excesses. The immediate cause is the separation of the membrane in which the fœtus is inclosed from the walls of the womb. Flooding may however result from the placenta growing over the mouth of the womb, and being torn as that opens—usually about the sixth or seventh month.—(See the article Flooding during Labor.)