Figs 15 and 16 represent two different forms of specula. The one represented by Fig. 15 consists of a tube of glass coated with quicksilver and covered with India rubber, which is thoroughly varnished. That represented by Fig. 18 is made of metal and plated. By using one of these instruments, the condition of the mouth of the womb can be distinctly seen.
Follicular Ulcer. When the mucous follicles of the neck of the uterus are inflamed they enlarge and become filled with a fluid having the color and consistency of honey, presenting the appearance illustrated by Fig. 25, Colored Plato IV. This secretion, because of the presence of the Inflammation, is not discharged. The follicles, therefore, continue to enlarge until they burst, and we then see in their place the red, elevated, angry-looking eminence, which is called a follicular ulcer.
Symptoms. The severity of the symptoms depends upon the character of the ulceration. It may be simple or associated with purulent leucorrhea and hemorrhage. If ulceration be slight and local, few symptoms will be present; but if it be associated with uterine debility, congestion and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the uterus, the discharge will be profuse, and there will be fixed pain in the back and loins, a bearing-down sensation, and great difficulty in walking. The discharge is weakening, as it impoverishes the blood, and thus reduces the strength.
Causes. Ulceration may be induced by any thing that excites inflammation of the lining membrane of the mouth and neck of the uterus. The use of pessaries, excessive sexual indulgence, injuries occasioned by giving birth to children, congestions, enlargements and displacements, may all operate as causes.
Treatment. We cannot too strongly condemn the practice so popular at the present time with physicians generally, of indiscriminately burning all uterine ulcers with strong caustics, such as nitrate of silver, chromate of potassium, and other similar escharotics, regardless of the condition of the general system. Ulcers of the womb must be healed in the same manner as those upon any other part of the body. It is an irrational practice to repeatedly cauterize them, expecting thereby to promote healing, while the system is vitiated and the vitality far below the standard of health. Enrich the blood, tone up the system, keep the ulcers cleansed by the frequent use of lotions, and they will generally heal. Caustics often aggravate the irritability and interfere with the healing processes of nature. Ladies should not unnecessarily submit to the exposure of their persons. If they perseveringly employ the treatment which we shall suggest, other local treatment will very rarely be found necessary. This modern warfare which physicians are waging upon the unoffending womb is a most irrational practice. Our grandmothers got along very well without exposing themselves to the humiliation and tortures of this new-born empiricism. We do not wish to be understood as undervaluing or denying the necessity, in rare cases, of examinations of the uterus, or as being unappreciative of the aid afforded in such investigations by the speculum, and the beneficial effects of local applications made directly to the womb through that instrument. What we affirm is, that such examinations and applications are, in the practice of most modern physicians, made unnecessarily frequent, resulting many times in lasting injury to the patient.
General Means. As has already been indicated, constitutional treatment should be principally relied upon to cure ulceration of the neck of the womb. Put the system in perfect order and the local ulceration cannot fail to heal. If you have a sore or ulcer upon the leg you very naturally reason that there is a fault in the system at large or in the blood. You do not apply caustics to the sore, but you go to work to restore the blood and system to a normal or healthy condition and as soon as this is accomplished the open and rebellious sore, or ulcer, heals of its own accord. All you have to do locally, to stimulate the ulcer to heal, is to keep it well cleansed by the use of Castile soap and warm water. Just so with ulceration of the womb. Thoroughly cleanse the vagina and neck of the womb once a day by the use of warm water and a little soap, applying this thoroughly, as directed on [page 704], under the head of treatment for leucorrhea, and using a solution of Dr. Pierce's Purifying and Strengthening Lotion Tablets as there directed. After thus thoroughly cleansing and purifying the parts, a piece of soft sponge as large as a hen's egg, to which a bit of cord or strong thread is attached to facilitate removing it, may be thoroughly wet in pure glycerine and introduced into the vagina, pressed against the mouth of the womb, and allowed to remain there for twelve hours, when it should be gently removed by pulling on the attached string. The cleansing lotion of soap and warm water should be used daily and followed by the glycerine application.
Every third night instead of the glycerine tampon apply one of Dr. Pierce's Antiseptic and Healing Suppositories, pressing it well up against the mouth of the womb, and letting it remain there to slowly dissolve. This will give far better curative results than the application of nitrate of silver or other caustics so generally used by physicians. Besides it has the great advantage of being entirely harmless in any condition of the parts to which it is applied. These Suppositories are powerfully antiseptic, destroying all offensive odors and have a soothing and at the same time tonic or strengthening effect upon the neck of the womb and the vagina.
In cases where there is prolapsus or falling of the womb, or Anteversion or Retroversion, or other displacements the use of the Antiseptic and Healing Suppositories will be found to be of great benefit in giving strength to the supports of the womb and its appendages.
If your dealer is not supplied with the Suppositories, inclose 25 cents in one-cent stamps to us at Buffalo, N.Y., and a package will be sent you, post-paid.