SYMPTOMS – These are numerous and vary in different cases, but the following are most commonly present:- bearing-down sensation in the vagina; dragging and aching pains in the small-of-the- back, and around the loins and hips; frequent sensation as if something would escape from the vagina; weariness, soreness, and faintness, with indisposition to stand, leucorrhoeal discharge; often increased menstruation, and frequent desire, and sometimes inability, to pass water; nervousness; irritability of temper; indigestion, constipation, etc. In procidentia the annoyance and inconvenience which the impediment causes are very great. The symptoms are aggravated by walking, lifting etc.; and relieved by rest in the horizontal posture.
CAUSES – Probably the most frequent cause is getting up too soon after childbirth, when the womb is larger than usual, and when also its perineal support below has been weakened by the process of parturition. This is more fully explained in the Section on “Subinvolution.”SubLuxation of the uterus may, however, take place at puberty, especially if menstruation begin at too early or too late a period, the increased weight of the congested organ predisposing to prolapsus. Occupations, such as those of laundresses, cooks, etc., are fruitful causes, especially if followed when the womb is relaxed or large. In other cases one of the following causes may have been in operation:- sexual excesses, injuries from falls, sudden straining, jumping, overlifting, etc.; long-continued cough; excessive vomitings; chronic indigestion, Constipation, and Piles; tight lacing; a general relaxed condition of the system, either constitutional or the result of sedentary habits; too high living; purgatives, etc. Thus it will be observed that the essential elements in prolapsus are-an enlarged, heavy womb, and relaxation of its natural supports, combined generally with too much standing. Prolapsus of the womb from rupture of the perineum during labour is not otherwise referred to here, as it requires surgical measures for reuniting the torn surfaces.
MEDICINAL TREATMENT – Aletris., Arnica, Belladonna, Helonias, Lilium, Lycopodium, Mercurius-S., Nux V., Podophyllum, Sepia, Stannum, Sulphur
LEADING INDICATIONS FOR THE PRINCIPAL REMEDIES. –
Arnica – Displacement from a fall, blow, over-exertion, or other mechanical injury.
Belladonna – Sense of weight any bearing-down in the region of the womb, with heat and tenderness; especially suited of plethoric females with menstruate profusely, with excessive sensibility and irritability.
Helonias. – Prolapsus, with other atonic conditions of the womb.
Lilium Tig. – Bearing-down sensations, aggravated by walking uphill, or taking a false step; excoriating yellow Leucorrhoea; mental depression.
Lycopodium – This remedy is sometimes required for similar symptoms to those mentioned under Nux V.
Nux Vomica – Prolapsus of the womb and vagina with constant dribbling discharge; indigestion, flatulence, Piles, constipation with straining at stool and the passage of lumps of hardened faeces, pain in the back, and pressing pain over the hips.
Podophyllum – Prolapsus uteri with concurrent rectal troubles.
Sepia – Prolapsus with great irritability and disposition to faint, or consequent upon Leucorrhoea, or when the menses are irregular, scanty, and attended with loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, bearing-down after exercise, frequent desire to urinate, drawing pain in the thighs, and a feeling as if the contents of the pelvis would fall out. Sepia is suited to feeble, nervous women of sensitive skin, with an easily strained muscular system. A yellowish leucorrhoeal discharge, itchings, eruptions, and tendency to uterine complaints, and Piles, are further indications.
Stannum – Frequent distressing bearing down-sensation, as if the menses would appear; excessive menstruation, preceded by dejection of spirits; constipation and nervousness.
Sulphur – Chronic prolapsus occurring in strumous constitutions, constipations, piles.
ACCESSORY MEANS – In many cases, postural treatment is nearly all that is necessary. The horizontal posture, with the hips elevated, often suffices to cause the womb to return to its proper place, where it will remain of the patient can retain the recumbent posture. This posture should therefore be maintained as long as is consistent with the general health, especially during the monthly period. It is not, however, desirable or practicable for women to remain long in bed. Exercise is necessary for health, and the industrious portion of the community are compelled to work and walk daily. In these cases a perineal pad gives temporary relief, and if used at the same time that proper remedies are taken, will ordinarily suffice to effect a cure.
The use of appropriate cold baths, followed by general friction of the skin; injections of cold water, or, in some cases, of astringent fluids, by means of the instrument and the daily use of the hip-bath are remedial agents whose great value is authenticated by long practice.
In some severe forms of procidentia a good pessary, accurately adapted the size of the vagina, may be used with advantage, if properly applied and not worn too long. Its injudicious use aggravates the mischief. A medical man should always be consulted in such cases.
Violent exercise, lifting heavy weights, scrubbing, ironing, straining at stool, or sitting too long with a constrained posture, must be avoided. Brown bread, vegetables, etc., should be taken to prevent constipation.
Prolapsus uteri is so often associated with constitutional causes – general debility, involving the digestive and nervous systems – that a cure must be sought through general constitutional measures, and it is desirable, if practicable, to confide the treatment to a homoeopathic practitioner.
20. – INFLAMMATION OF THE WOMB (Metritis)
This affection may occur in any adult female, and is an occasional serious complication of pregnancy, or of childbirth. The disease may be acute or chronic, the cervix is the part generally involved, and the ultimate tendency of inflammation of the deeper tissues of the womb is towards ulceration.
SYMPTOMS – An attack may commence with a chill, followed by febrile symptoms – full, jerking pulse, great thirst, nausea and vomiting, and sometimes diarrhoea with tenesmus, the bladder is irritable, and there is a feeling of throbbing in the vicinity of the womb, which is swollen and painful. The precise seat of pain depends upon what part, or whether the whole of the womb is involved. There are throbbings, irritability of the bladder and rectum, and the patient maintains the recumbent posture as sitting aggravates the pains. Sometimes the disease assumes a typhoid character, and there is excessive prostration, and a dirty-yellow-coated, dry tongue. By comparing these symptoms with those described under “Dysmenorrhoea,” they will be seen to vary sufficiently to prevent confusion in the diagnosis.
CAUSES – Exposure to cold; sitting or standing on damp grass, etc.; suppression of the menses; mechanical irritation, as form excessive coition, tumors, etc.
TREATMENT – Professional advice is essential in so serious a disease. Until it can be had, Aconite and Belladonna should be administered early, in alternation, every thirty to sixty minutes. As improvement ensues, the medicines may be given less often, or supplanted by one more appropriate, Arsenicum, Mercurius, Hepar- S., Sabin., Nux V., Iodium, Platina, or Sulph.
ACCESSORY MEANS – Rest as complete as possible simple diet, with cooling drinks, and fomentations of hot water. In the early stage of the disease the patient may sit in hot water for twenty or thirty minutes, with the shoulders and feet covered. She must retain the recumbent posture until all the inflammatory symptoms have subsided.
21. – POLYPUS OF THE WOMB
Among the disorders to which the woman is subject one of the most troublesome is the formation of tumours. About one-third of the cases of uterus disease, after attaining the thirty-fifth year, are due to these growths. There may be one or many, they may vary from the size of small marble to that of a child’s head, they may weigh less than an ounce or many pounds. But whatever be the discomforts and dangers attending them, there is this consolation, that they are not malignant, and do not degenerate into Cancer. Those to which special reference is now made are Polypi.
VARIETIES – Three kinds of uterine Polypi have been observed; mucous or gelatinous (similar to nasal mucous Polypi, fibroid; and cystic.
CAUSES – These have never been satisfactorily ascertained. But they are most frequently developed when the menstrual and reproductive functions are most active, and hence it may be inferred that they originate from some abnormal change or conditions which occasionally arises at this period. In some cases it appears that the fibroid Polypus is consequent on incomplete involution of the uterus. By some authorities it is supposed that they are due to insufficient nutrition of the system, at a time, perhaps, when considerable demands are made upon it.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."