With regard to medicines, in no form of disease is it so important, as in venereal affections, that they should be continued for some time after the disappearance of symptoms. Many a relapse of gonorrhœa and secondary symptoms have occurred through the sudden abandonment of the means adopted for their cure.
Exercise forms another important part of management in convalescence; it should not be suddenly resumed, nor should fatigue by any means be incurred. Early retiring to bed, and early rising in the morning, tend considerably to promote and preserve health. Warm clothing is very essential and necessary for invalids.
The general signs of amendment are as follows: a reduced frequency of the pulse, which is always accelerated in acute diseases, the absence of thirst, a clean tongue, a moist skin, a good appetite, and refreshing sleep; and, lastly, all these are corroborated by an improvement in the looks. The improved aspect of the countenance has always been regarded as a sure criterion of returning health.
STRUCTURE, FUNCTIONS, AND DISEASES, OF THE FEMALE ORGANS OF GENERATION.
The female genitals occupy the same relative situation in the pelvis as the male, but they are an antithesis to each other. The male are constructed to deposite, and the female to receive; consequently, in the female there is a conduit or passage, in place of the male penis, termed the vagina, leading to the womb—the receptacle for the impregnating fluid. The vagina is placed between the bladder and rectum. Its entrance is marked by doublings, or longitudinal folds of flesh, called labia, between the upper part of which is the opening of the urethra into the bladder, while below is occupied by the aperture, passage, or fissure, as above described. At the roof of the vagina is a fleshy ridge, with a pouting apex or point analogous to the penis in the male, except being impervious, and called the clitoris, which possesses the power of erection, or rather of becoming intumescent when excited, and also of furnishing a peculiar secretion. It is exquisitely sensitive, and believed to be the seat of pleasure in the sexual embrace. The vagina consists of a very soft, vascular, elastic, and contracting structure, constituting, when its sides are collapsed, liliputian rugæ, or ridges, like the impressions left on the sand by a receding sea. Its surface is lined by a delicate mucous membrane, which secretes a lubricating fluid. It is this membrane which is the seat of gonorrhœal discharge, fluor albus, &c.; and it is also subject to ulcerations and other diseases. From the clitoris is suspended an inner fold, like a graceful mantle, called nymphæ, which are also extremely sensitive, and appear to serve, as they surround the urethra, also for the purpose of directing the flow of urine. Under the opening of the urethra, adherent to the external margins of the vagina, is a membranous veil, or curtain, with a small central aperture, called the hymen, the presence of which is looked upon as a test of virginity. After the laceration or dilatation of this membrane, which takes place through other causes than sexual intercourse, the sides of it contract, and form little wing-like slips, to which the fanciful name of carunculæ myrtiformes is applied.
The subjoined diagram will familiarize the reader with the situations of the female organs thus far given. It exhibits a sectional view of the contents of the pelvis, or lower part of the abdomen:—
| 1. The bladder. 2. The urethra, or entrance to ditto. 3. The vagina. 4. The womb. 5. The ovary. 6. The fimbria, and fallopian tube. 7. The rectum, or lower extremity of the bowel. 8. The hymen. View larger image |
