FALLING OF THE WOMB.
The falling down of the womb is a relaxation of the ligature, whereby
the matrix is carried backward, and in some hangs out the size of an
egg. The falling of the womb is, when it sinks down to the entrance of
the privities, and appears to the eye either very little or not at all.
The precipitation is, when the womb, like a purse is turned inside
outward, and hangs betwixt the thighs in the size of a cupping-glass.
_Cause._—The external cause is difficult child-birth, violent pulling
away of the secundine, rashness and inexperience in drawing away the
child, violent coughing, sneezing, falls, blows, and carrying heavy
burdens. The internal cause is overmuch humidity flowing into these
parts, hindering the operations of the womb, whereby the ligaments by
which the womb is supported are relaxed. The cause in particular is
referred to be in the retention of the seed, or in the suppression of
the monthly terms.
_Signs._—The intestines and bladder are oftentimes so crushed, that the
passage of the excrements is hindered; if the urine flows forth white
and thick, and the midriff moistened, the loins are grieved, the
privities pained, and the womb sinks down to the private parts, or else
comes clean out.
_Prognostics._—In an old woman it is cured with great difficulty;
because it weakens the faculty of the womb, and therefore, though it be
reduced to its proper place, yet upon very little illness it returns;
and so it is with the younger sort, if the disease be inveterate. If it
be caused by a putrefaction of the nerves, it is incurable.
_Cures._—The womb being naturally placed between the strait gut and the
bladder, and now fallen down, ought not to be put up again, until the
faculty, both of the gut and of the bladder, be stirred up. Nature being
unloaded of her burden, let the woman be laid on her back, her legs
higher than her head; let her feet be drawn up to her hinder parts, with
her knees spread; then mollify the swelling with oil of lilies and sweet
almonds, or with the decoction of mallows, beets, fenugreek, and
linseed; when the inflammation is dissipated, let the midwife anoint her
hand with oil of mastic, and reduce the womb into its place. The matrix
being up, the situation of the patient must be changed, let her legs be
put out at length, and laid together; six cupping-glasses to her breast
and navel; boil mugwort, feverfew, red roses, and comfrey in red wine;
make a suffumigation for the matrix; and at her coming out of the bath,
give her syrup of feverfew one ounce, with a drachm of mithridate. Take
laudani, mastic, of each three drachms, make a plaster of it for the
navel; then make pessaries of asafœtida, saffron, comfrey, and mastic,
adding thereto a little castor.
The matrix seated in its natural abode, the remote cause must be
removed. If the body be plethoric, open a vein; prepare with syrup of
betony, calamint, hyssop, and feverfew. Purge with pil. hierac, agaric,
pil. de colocin. If the stomach be oppressed with crudities, unburden it
by vomiting; sudorifical decoctions of lignum sanctum, and sassafras,
taken twenty days together, dry up the superfluous moisture, and
consequently suppress the cause of the disease.
Let the air be hot and dry, your diet hot and attenuating; abstain from
all motion, both of body and mind; eat sparingly, drink little, sleep
moderately.