Fry (Am. Obs. J., June, 1888,) advocates the use of the galvanic current
as a substitute for the curette for the removal of retained fragments of
the secundines. He uses a current of sixty to ninety milliamperes with
the anode in the uterus. The application is continued from six to ten
minutes and repeated on alternate days. The placental tissue, owing to
its relatively low vitality, is destroyed without injury to the uterus
itself. Separation and expulsion follow. Hæmorrhage is relieved by the
well known hæmostatic action of the positive electrode. Dr. Fry also
claims antiseptic properties for the positive pole since here are
liberated oxygen and chlorine in a nascent state and also acids.
Goodell thinks the curette an inefficient instrument for the evacuation
of the uterine cavity and liable to injure the uterus. He advocates
polypus forceps. Parrish finds the curette deceptive. He uses the
finger. Longaker prefers the finger. [A Sims’ speculum, a dull curette
and a strong, straight uterine dressing forceps, with its joint two and
a half inches from its distal end need never fail. The finger is
awkward, difficult, painful, and sometimes requires preliminary dilation
of the cervix. It cannot, moreover, be so easily sterilized, and even
though clean primarily is liable to carry septic organisms from the
vagina. Injuries to the uterus are for the most part the fault of
imperfect asepsis.]