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Ebook has 576 lines and 66409 words, and 12 pages

Release date: August 25, 2023

Original publication: US:

BY DR. A. M. MAURICEAU, Professor of Diseases of Women.

Office, 129 Liberty street.

NEW YORK.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by JOSEPH TROW, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District New York.

PREFACE.

The "Introduction" in the succeeding pages, being amply explanatory, but few prefatory words will suffice. The object and intention of the work is manifest and self-evident.

It is to extend to every female, whether wife, mother or daughter, such information as will best qualify her to judge of her own maladies, and, having ascertained their existence, apply the proper remedies.

From these pages she will learn the causes, the symptoms and the remedies, for such complaints to which she may be liable, the nature of which she may not desire to impart to another.

Whether married or unmarried, she can, from these pages, compare her own symptoms with those described, and act in accordance with the mode of treatment prescribed. She will thereby be exempt from those doubts, perplexities and anxieties, which arise from ignorance of her situation, or the causes which produce it.

In short, the author sincerely believes that to the female budding into womanhood,--to one about to become a wife, or to the wife about becoming a mother, as well as to every one already a wife and a mother, as also to the female in the decline of years, in whom nature contemplates an important change, the "Married Woman's Private Medical Companion" contains instructions of such paramount importance, as to embrace the present happiness and future welfare of each.

It hardly need be added that great labour has been encountered in the preparation of a work of this nature, as the most reliable and correct sources have been availed of.

INDEX

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

In introducing a subject of the nature treated of in this volume we are perhaps treading upon interdicted if not dangerous ground, for the world is not free from those pseudo-moralists, who would check, and, if possible, arrest the onward progress of medical and physiological science, and compel all to trudge on in the old beaten path, neither turning to the left nor the right, much less to look forward, but cast their glance backward. And although they behold every other science marching with rapid strides to comparative perfection:--what through the agency of steam and iron rails, space as it were, annihilated; what but yesterday, comparatively speaking, required weeks to perform, a few hours now suffice; nay the lightning fluid itself is made subservient to man's powers of discovery and ingenuity, transmitting intelligence from distant points with the speed of thought:--yet, in physiological and medical science, we are required to be as an immovable rock, upon which the overwhelming billows of physiological science and discovery are to wash fruitlessly and in vain, to recede back into the dark sea of ignorance.

But the subject is one which embraces our social joys and comforts, the endearments of home and the family fire-side, the health and well-being of wives, mothers, and daughters, and cannot be retarded by the cobwebs in its way, to stem its onward course. No female, either married, or about to be married--no wife about becoming a mother--no mother having a daughter--no father who desires to prolong the health, beauty, and vigor of his offspring--no husband who has his own happiness, or the happiness of the companion of his bosom at heart--no young man, even, having a regard to his future welfare, should be without this important little work. Here the wife, mother or daughter, can detect her own complaints, trace them to their causes, and apply the remedy. This is all important. For, how often does the young female , suffer in health rather than impart her malady to another, and especially to a medical man; and thus, many diseases, which though trifling in their origin, and at first easily removed, become seated and confirmed in her constitution. How deplorable are the consequences arising either from neglect or ignorance in the treatment of females who are afflicted with a stoppage, irregularity, or entire suppression of the menses or monthly turns, from which spring a train of diseases, which it would, in this place, be useless to enumerate, but which make our wives and daughters sickly, and our offspring short-lived.

It is also important that the female should understand the cause which might occasion a stoppage of the menses to possess the information contained in this work, by which it can be ascertained whether it may not arise from pregnancy and thereby avoid that anxiety of mind arising from an uncertainty as to her real situation, alternately imagining the one or the other, as her inclinations or fears may tend.

In respect, too, when a woman is threatened with miscarriage or abortion it is important that the treatment, either to prevent it, or, when that is impracticable, to assist and expedite it, should be thoroughly understood, and its treatment made clear and simple, that no unnecessary alarm need be occasioned when it occurs.

So, too, in regard to the various diseases accompanying and belonging to pregnancy, every woman should know how to prevent the one and ameliorate the other.

And finally, the subject of unfruitfulness, sterility, or barrenness, is here presented in a manner, which, to some extent, demonstrates that in most cases it can be cured, yet how many are pining in childless loneliness, in utter despair of cure.

Such are some of the important topics treated of in these pages, so intimately connected with every woman's peace and happiness, with which every woman should be conversant, and yet how little informed are most females with what concerns themselves, their children, and their husbands so much.

MANAGEMENT

FEMALE COMPLAINTS.

MENSTRUATION.

One of the principal constitutional characteristics of the female, is menstruation, or the monthly evacuations peculiar to the sex.

This important operation generally takes place about the age of twelve or thirteen; but varies through the world, either in degree or frequency, both from constitution and climate.

Women in the higher ranks of life, and those of a delicate, nervous constitution, are subject to sickness, headache, and pains in the back and loins, during periodical evacuation. Those of the lower rank, inured to exercise and labor, and strangers to those refinements which debilitate the system, and interrupt the functions essential to the preservation of health, are seldom observed to suffer at these times, unless from general indisposition, or a diseased state of the womb.

After the discharge has become established it recurs periodically while in health; and its recurrence is so regular, that it can be calculated with great exactness. The usual period of its visitations is from twenty-seven to thirty days. As to the time of its continuance, this is various in different women; but it seldom continues longer than six days, or less than three, and does not cease suddenly, but in a gradual manner.

Its approach is generally preceded by certain feelings of oppression or deviation from the ordinary state of health, which warn the individual of what is to happen. There is, in particular, a sensation of fulness about the lower part of the belly, and a relaxation about the uterine system which can scarcely be overlooked by the most heedless. The appetite becomes delicate, the limbs tremble and feel weak, the face becomes pale, and there is a peculiar dark streak or shade under the eyes; sometimes great restlessness, slight fever, headache, heavy and dull pain in the small of the back and bottom of the belly, swelled and hardened breasts, &c. All of which are sometimes instantly relieved by a trifling discharge from the vagina, and this not necessarily colored. It must at the same time be admitted, that in some few constitutions these feelings are so inconsiderable as to be little attended to; so that the woman mixes in society as usual without any apparent inconvenience.

The period at which the menses make their appearance, is various; it is much influenced by constitution, climate and mode of life. As a general rule, it takes place at puberty, or at that period at which the female is capable of propagating her species; and this period varies as climate may differ. They constantly, however, keep pace with the development of the body; where this is rapid, they will appear proportionably earlier; where this process is slower, they will appear later: but whenever the menses appear as regular evacuations, they mark the period of puberty: thus, in hot countries, women commence to menstruate at eight or nine years of age, and are not unfrequently mothers at ten.

In the more northern regions, as in Lapland, &c., this evacuation is generally delayed until the female has attained her eighteenth or nineteenth year: in the temperate latitudes the average period will be found from the fourteenth to the sixteenth year. A difference, will, nevertheless, be found in the women who may reside in cities, and in those who dwell in the country of each respective portion of the globe. It may also be observed, that in cold countries, women continue to menstruate for a longer period than in warm; and as a general rule, it will be found they are obnoxious to this discharge double the period that elapses before it commences. Thus, women who have not this discharge until eighteen, will be found to have it until beyond fifty; those who commence at fourteen or fifteen, will leave off at forty-five; those who begin so early as eight or nine, will have it cease at twenty-five or six.

On the appearance of the menses, or monthly turns, nature seems to perfect her work, both as regards development and proportion: it is the period of the most perfect beauty of which the female is susceptible; it is the one at which the moral changes are not less remarkable than the physical; it is a moment, of all others, the most replete with consequences to the inexperienced and confiding female.

At this period a great variety of interesting and curious phenomena present themselves: the voice is found to change; the neck and throat to increase in size, and to become more symmetrical; the mammae to swell; the nipple to protrude; the chest to expand; the eyes to acquire intelligence, and increase of brilliancy; in a word, a new being, almost, is created.

The quantity of fluid expended at a menstruous period differs in different individuals; with girls who precociously menstruate, the quantity is in general smaller, and the returns less regular. Climate exerts an influence upon the quantity discharged, as well as upon the periods at which this evacuation shall commence. Thus, in the equatorial and more northern regions, it is less than in the more temperate climates.

It is of importance for women to know that occasional irregularities are not always the consequences of disease. Constitutions vary as much in respect to the regular returns of this discharge, as they do with regard to their first appearance or final cessation. Those in whom the change occurs very early from vigor of constitution, require little to be done for them; but in weak and delicate habits, the non-appearance of this evacuation is too often considered as the cause, whereas it ought to be viewed as the effect, of the state of the habit unpropitious to its taking place. And, according to family practice, under this false impression, warm teas and forcing medicines are employed at the approach of this disease, which have often done much harm.

Nature is not so defective in her own judgment as to require auxiliaries. Care should be taken to improve the general state of the health, by attention to diet, moderate exercise, change of air, &c.

In some instances the menstrual discharge does not make its appearance before the age of seventeen or eighteen, and, nevertheless, health is not in the least affected. The mere want of evacuation at the ordinary time, therefore, is not to be considered as morbid, unless the system be evidently deranged thereby. In many cases, however, symptoms of disease appear which are evidently connected with the defect of the menses, and go off upon its discharge. The treatment, in such cases, must be regulated by the particular circumstances and constitution of the individual. There is no remedy adapted to every case of this kind; but an open state of the bowels, and a due regulation of the diet, together with moderate exercise, are useful in every instance of this complaint. Warm clothing, too, particularly about the lower extremities, is of most essential benefit. The occasional use of the warm bath is pleasant and beneficial, especially if the skin be dry and warm. As the health improves, the cold bath will prove an auxiliary, if, after using it, the patient feels a glow of heat and a greater degree of liveliness. When the means ordinarily employed have failed, marriage, or a change of climate, has produced the wished-for effect.

In some instances the evacuation is impeded by a mechanical cause, that is an obstruction of the passage to the womb. This occasionally is met with, and the chief obstacle to its speedy removal is the difficulty of ascertaining its existence. The operation by which it is completely remedied, is not more painful nor formidable than blood-letting.

Fortunately, in most cases, the evacuation takes place in due time, and the constitution sustains no material or permanent injury. It is, however, in every instance, proper to pay particular attention to the system during the continuance of the evacuation.

The stomach and bowels, at this period, are very easily disordered, and therefore, everything which is heavy or indigestible, ought to be avoided. Some are hurt by eating fruits or vegetables; others by taking fermented liquor. In this respect experience must enable each individual to judge for herself. Exposure to cold, particularly getting the feet wet, is hurtful, as it tends suddenly to obstruct the discharge. The same effect is likewise produced by violent passions of the mind, which are also, at this time, peculiarly apt to excite spasmodic affections, or hysterical fits.

It is, in general, a very proper rule not to administer any very active medicines, at this time, unless some violent symptom absolutely requires them. Opiates, for instance, are, in many cases, necessary to allay spasmodic affections, or abate pain; and they are, in such circumstances, uniformly safe. They give speedy relief to hysterical feeling or suffocation, or to spasm of the stomach or bowels.

Dancing, exposure to much heat, or making any great or fatiguing exertion, are improper. These causes may increase, to an improper degree, the quantity of the evacuation, and in certain circumstances may give a disposition to a falling down of the womb.

RETENTION OF THE MENSES.

The menstrual discharge is liable, from many causes, to become obstructed at the period when it ought to appear; when this takes place it is attended with very painful or serious effects; and, if nature is not assisted, the health is impaired or the constitution undermined, inducing consumption or some other complaint.

The remote cause of this complaint is most frequently suppressed perspiration; and it may arise, in part, from an inactive sedentary life, and such habits as are peculiar to the higher classes of society, particularly in cities and towns. The proximate cause of it seems to be a want of power in the system, arising from inability to propel the blood into the uterine vessels with sufficient force to open their extremities and to allow a discharge of blood from them.

Heaviness, listlessness to motion, fatigue on the least exercise, palpitation of the heart, pains in the back, loins, and hips, flatulence, acidities in the stomach and bowels, costiveness, a preternatural appetite for chalk, lime, and various other absorbents, together with many other dyspeptic symptoms. As it advances in its progress the face becomes pale, and afterward assumes a yellowish hue, even verging upon green, whence it has been called green sickness; the lips lose their rosy color; the eyes are encircled with a livid areola; the whole body has an unhealthy appearance, with every indication of a want of power and energy in the constitution; the feet are affected with swellings; the breathing is much hurried by any great exertion of the body; the pulse is quick, but small; and the person is liable to a cough, and to many of the symptoms of hysteria. Sometimes a great quantity of pale urine is discharged in the morning, and not unfrequently hectic fever attends. In cases of a more chronic character there is a continued, though variable, state of sallowness, yellowness, darkness, or a wan, squalid, or sordid paleness of complexion, or ring of darkness surrounding the eyes, and extending perhaps a little toward the temples and cheeks.

The female should be very careful not to expose herself to the vicissitudes of the weather, and not suffer the feet or clothes to become wet: warm clothing must be worn, and particularly flannel. For pain apply a heated brick, covered, to the bowels.

The diet should be light, nutritious, and easy of digestion.

SUPPRESSION OF THE MENSES.

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