Mother, Nurse and Infant / A Manual Especially Adapted for the Guidance of Mothers and Monthly Nurses, Comprising Full Instruction in Regard To Pregnancy, Preparation for Child-birth, and the Care of Mother and Child, and Designed to Impart so Much Knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, Midwifery, and the Proper Use of Medicines as Will Serve Intelligently to Direct the Wife, Mother and Nurse in All Emergencies.

by S. P. Sackett

Fig. 15. Antiflexion of the uterus.

The catamenia come on with pain and difficulty, but about the second day the flow of blood seems to give some relief. The general health is bad, there are frequent attacks of nausea, the appetite is small, the spirits are depressed, and there are many what are called hysterical symptoms. On examination the congested fundus may be found encroaching upon the rectum; on touching this part the patient will exclaim that it is the seat of her sufferings, and it is not uncommon to find tenderness of one or both ovaries.

Not many of these symptoms are present in ANTIFLEXION, but this commonly produces great irritability of the bladder, so that when the patient is in the erect position, the desire to micturate is almost as great as in disease of the bladder.

Fig. 16. Anteversion of the uterus.

The treatment includes replacing the uterus with the sound. Should there be adhesions, however, this might cause intolerable pain. In such cases relief is given by the use of belladonna plasters and belladonna, opium, hyoscyamus, or conium tampons. One-half to one dram of the tincture of one of the narcotics may be added to the glycerine in which the tampon is soaked, or the cervical end of the tampon may be dipped in the tincture. Suppositories and ointments may also be used. (F. 163, 214).

RETROVERSION AND ANTEVERSION.

In RETROVERSION (Fig. [13]) the fundus is turned toward the hollow of the sacrum, while the os is drawn under the arch of the pubis.

Anteversion is characterized by the fundus being towards or against the bladder, the os being directed to the cavity of the sacrum. (Fig. [16].) Retroversion is liable to occur at the third month of pregnancy, from the neglected distention of the bladder, and from a morbid weight and enlargement, though after the fourth month the uterus is too much enlarged to fall down in any way. The chief symptoms are backache and bearing down pains. It may happen that micturation will be impeded; and if the bladder may be felt at the lower part of the abdomen, or if the patient complain of a constant desire to pass water, or especially if the urine should dribble away, the catheter ought to be passed without loss of time, and the bladder should be kept evacuated. It may be necessary, in order to restore the organ to its proper position, to introduce the first and second fingers of one hand into the vagina, and a finger of the other into the rectum.