Aconite. In highly inflammatory constitutions, with hot, dry skin, and intense thirst and restlessness. Much mental distress. She thinks she cannot get well; that she will die.
Apis mel. The parts have a stinging, like that of bee-stings, as their most prominent sensation.
Arsenic. The parts have a black look, and burn like fire. She has thirst for cold water; but drinks little at a time and often. Great anguish-and restlessness.
Belladonna. A constant sense of weight and pressure, as if the parts were falling out. The parts have a scarlet-red appearance.
Lachesis. The parts are of a deep purple color. The patient wakens often, in much distress.
Nux vomica. The patient wishes to urinate and defecate very often; but’ small quantities, if any, being discharged from the bladder or bowels.
Opium. The patient is very sleepy. She lies in a soporous condition.
Sulphur. Frequent flushes of heat, and weak, fainty spells. Heat in the soles of the feet.
Sulphuric acid. The parts have a greenish look. They smell badly and the patient is very weak.
Veratrum album. An exhausting diarrhoea attends the other troubles. There is cold perspiration on the forehead.
SPASMS, CRAMPS AND CONSTRICTIONS OF THE VAGINA.
The muscular structure of the vagina may become subject to spasm in consequence of irritation arising in the vagina itself, or in consequence of the extension to the vaginal walls of similar affections in the neighboring organs. And it may be the result of local, vaginal irritation, in persons of a general nervous temperament, or of an irritable or hysterical constitution. or it may be occasioned by displacements, or organic diseases of the adjacent structures.
Thus, in persons predisposed to such affections by a nervous irritability of constitution, spasms of the vaginal may arise from the local irritation of coitus, from riding on horseback, or from walking. In hysterical women, these spasms may as readily be induced by violent mental emotions or disturbed moral feelings;and by the periodic excitement of the menstrual nisus. And they are very frequent found among the spasmodic affections common to the hysterical state. A careful study of all the symptoms, causative influences and attendant conditions, will be necessary in order to prescribe for this troublesome affection; a through cure of which may well imply an entire restoration of the general health. For the real seat of vaginal, as well as of uterine spasms, and of all their intermediate causes, such as displacements, ulcerations, irritability and dysmenorrhoea, may often be found in nervous, functional or organic disease of the ovaries. Hence without an intelligent consideration of all the symptoms and conditions which make up the tout ensemble of our patient’s case, we shall find ourselves entirely unable to relieve her of those which are most distressing, or for which she more particularly seeks relief at our hands. And until the general irritability of the system is remedied by appropriate medication, it will be indispensable for the patient carefully to avoid all those local influences, such so coitus, riding, walking etc., which may tend to bring on the spasms. For while these spasmodic disturbances are the result of nervous debility, either constitutional and general, or local, or both, they tend also by still further weakening the parts, to perpetuate themselves. Besides habit and the frequent recurrences of such cramps or spasmodic affections no less powerfully combine to perpetuate them in the system, by making them a second morbid nature, as fungous growths override and overpower the original normal structure.
These strictures of the vagina may be cured without artificial dilatation, by the aid of the homoeopathically indicated remedy.
Belladonna. In plethoric individuals, disposed to phlegmonous inflammations. The symptoms often come on suddenly and disappear with equal suddenness. A sense of heat and dryness is felt in the parts.
Cocculus. Aggravation at every menstrual period; particularly when the periods are attended by such weakness that she can hardly talk.
Ignatia a. She is troubled with a weak, empty, gone feeling at the pit of the stomach, which is not relieved by eating. She is inclined to brood over her troubles. Full of grief.
Mercurius. The parts have a strong tendency to excoriate; to swell and become inflamed. A raw sensation is felt in the parts.
Nux vomica. In females who indulge in high living; wines, etc. Habitual constipation of large and difficult stools; or small stools with frequent urging.
Platina. In very nervous, spasmodic temperaments. And where there is much tenderness of the vulva.
Pulsatilla will often be indicated in persons of a very tearful, mild, yielding disposition.
NEURALGIA OF THE VAGINA.
This exceedingly painful affection of the vagina bears exactly the same relation to this organ that irritability, or rather hysteralgia, does to the uterus. As in irritable uterus, so in neuralgia of the vagina, the parts are exceedingly sensitive to the touch.
Neuralgia of the vagina may arise from any causes, such as excessive coition or other influence of that kind, which may weaken the nerves of the parts and so excite in them an irritable and hyper-sensitive condition; or it may result from suppression of external exanthemata, or of vaginal discharges; or from injections of cold water for a particular purpose after coition. In whatever manner this affection is directly caused, it is of course necessary for the patient to avoid such influences, as the first step towards the cure. So also in those cases which may result indirectly from other morbid conditions of the internal organs of generation;-all such primary diseases must be strictly attended to; and this not exclusively or necessarily with reference to the local symptoms alone. All the morbid conditions, all the constitutional affections and attendant circumstances must be carefully taken into consideration in prescribing for this disorder. The neuralgia of the vaginal may make its appearance, like many other similar affections in other parts of the system, whenever the patient becomes fatigued; its pains may be of a peculiar character, lancinating, or burning,-worse from motion of touch, or exposure to cold; or relieved by severe pressure or friction, as in those cases which appear connected with pruritus.
For those persons who are subject to this excessive irritability and hyper-sensitiveness of the nervous system, it is important to inquire if something connected with their diet, habit of living, or other external circumstances, may not be instrumental in maintaining this painful condition. The use of coffee will often be found to cause the excessive sensitiveness to pain, the neuralgic condition of the nerves, in which certain peripheral surfaces (very apt to be the external genitals in females) may become as sensitive to pain and as intolerable to the least touch, as are the parts affected in cases of gout. Tea, on the other hand, especially if taken too strong, will more often occasion the excessive irritability of the nervous system in general; and so lead the way, as in the case of coffee, for local exciting influences to develop such an affection as neuralgia of the vagina. In short, whatever influences tend to weaken and depress the nervous system, may occasion irritability of the peripheral extremities of the motor fibres, and a still more distressing neuralgic condition of the corresponding sensory filaments; such influences therefore should be as carefully avoided as possible, in order to obtain a perfect cure by the use of the appropriate medicines.
Merely the local symptoms belonging to each remedy are mentioned here; but as scarcely any two of them are alike, the indication will, inmost cases, be sufficient; in others all the symptoms of the case may have to be compared.
Alumina. Stitches in the left side of the vulva, extending as far as the chest. Beating, throbbing pain in the vagina.
Arsenicum. Lancinations from the abdomen into the vagina.
Belladonna. Stitches in the vagina, with sensation of great heat and dryness. Pains that come on suddenly, continue violently, and disappear as suddenly as they came.
Berberis. Intensely painful vagina, burning and soreness as if excoriated. Sudden lancinating pain in the vagina, causing her to start, with soreness of the wall of the vagina to the touch.
Bromine. Loud emissions of flatus from the vagina. Pain in the vagina as if sore.
Calcarea carb. Aching in the vagina. Leucophlegmatic temperament.
Cantharides. Violent itching in the vagina. Dysuria; sharp cutting, a few drops at a time and almost constant desire to urinate.
Chamomilla. Burning in the vagina as if excoriated. Very impatient; can hardly answer one civilly.
Colocynthis. Swelling of the labia, with dragging pain and heat in the vagina.
Conium. Stitches in the vagina and pressing from above downwards. The urine intermits during its flow.
Creosote. Stitches in the vagina, coming from the abdomen, causing her to start. Voluptuous itching deep in the vagina.
