There is a smaller proportion of cases whose unfortunate surroundings or lack of intelligence makes remedial measures of no avail. These poor women have neither respite from physical labor nor freedom from the animal passions of their husbands, and thus living in constant pain they become drooped in spirit and reduced in vigor, so that they fall an easy victim to any intercurrent affection that may attack them.
In proportion as the patients can give their diseased ovaries freedom from irritating influences are the chances for their complete recovery increased.
To accomplish this object, quietude in the recumbent posture, sexual abstinence and a free daily stool form the basis for recovery. If there is much pelvic pain, this is best controlled by means of the ice bag, 4x6 inches in size, of which one on each side, wrapped in one thickness of flannel, should be applied to the groin or region of the ovaries; cold-water compresses, thoroughly wrung, so as not to drip, and covered with flannel so as to keep the bed covering dry, are also advisable, but only a poor substitute for the ice.
Iodoform suppositories greatly stimulate the absorption of the inflammatory exudation; one of these should be introduced into the vaginal canal each day. If the patient can get up without any painful symptoms, she should take the hot sitz bath for ten or fifteen minutes daily, and as a general tonic, this is a useful prescription.
NO. XI.
| Take: | Bromide of sodium | 2 drams |
| Iodide of potassium | 1 dram | |
| Comp. tinct. of gentian | 2 ounces | |
| Water, sufficient to make | 8 ounces |
Mix. A tablespoonful three times a day.
There is no affection in the entire category of diseases of women, in which the confidence of women has been more abused by specialists, than by meddlesome surgical invasions, for the extirpation of one or both ovaries, to cure real or imaginary diseases of these glands. There is a veritable mania among surgeons for this operation, but the conservative portion of the profession are awakening to a conviction that this is entirely wrong, and a presumption on professional license that is altogether unpardonable.
If these castrations were confined to the removal of ovaries that are unmistakably degenerated or diseased, and that had resisted intelligent treatment for some time, there would not be the same objection, but when ovaries are removed that are apparently healthy, but through ignorance or incompetency are supposed to be the offending members, then, I say, that is an outrage.
There are a great many women who have been subjected to the dangers of a so-called normal ovariotomy, without being in the least benefited by the operation. The symptoms which the extirpation of their ovaries was to relieve, persisted as before, and they discovered, when it was too late, that spaying is not a panacea for the ills that suffering women are heir to.