was now debilitated, and had worn her clothing a good deal too tight. I
endeavored to persuade her to do all she could under the circumstances
toward the restoration of her health, and especially, to avoid the great
evil which I have mentioned.
On the 18th of November, 1850, the patient having been some days an
inmate of our establishment, gave birth to an apparently healthy male
child, weighing nine pounds. During two days she experienced pains, more
or less. Being very much busied at the time myself, my worthy friend,
Dr. Wm. E. Rogers, of Waymart, Wayne county, Pa., superintended the
delivery in a faithful and skillful manner. With his own hands he
changed the wet cloths every few minutes, during the period of four
hours. These, of course, aided very materially in warding off
after-pains, and all other evils incident to the puerperal state.
The patient having no nipples, could not nurse her child. They had been
_countersunk_, as carpenters would say; that is, they had been driven
into the breast, doubtless by the patient having been in the habit of
wearing too tight clothing upon them. This not unfrequently happens with
those who unwisely attempt to improve upon the form which nature has
given them.
No milk whatever could be obtained from the breasts; they were inflamed
considerably, three or four days at first, but, by appropriate
treatment, the difficulty soon ceased.
Previous to entering our establishment, the patient had never in her
life taken an entire ablution, that she could remember of. After the
birth, she had, in connection with the compresses, one towel-bath a day.
Three days after the birth, that is, on the fourth morning, she found
herself sufficiently strong to enable her to go down five flights of
stairs without assistance, and twice went out of doors. The next day she
worked in the kitchen, and by following up the daily bathing, with care
and diet, she was very soon fully recovered.
It will be seen that this patient had comparatively but little general
treatment. The persevering use of the cold fomentations, adopted at the
first after delivery, must have operated powerfully in warding off heat
and other inflammatory symptoms, which tend so much to reduce the
strength.
Considering the fact of the inflammation of the breasts, and that no
milk whatever could be obtained, it was rather remarkable that she was
carried through it without having them suppurate and break.
_Case XVI.—December 20, 1850._—The patient was, I judge, about
twenty-five or twenty-six years of age; apparently of scrofulous habit;
eighteen months before, gave birth to her first child. At that time she
was kept in her room three months constantly, with a broken breast. This
time she resolved to avail herself of the water-treatment, with a hope
of avoiding the awful sufferings which she had before endured.
She bathed pretty freely and daily during this her second period,
following the advice laid down in the work entitled “Water-Treatment in
Pregnancy and Childbirth.” She kept also busy about household duties,
which aided her a good deal in maintaining good general health.
On the evening of the above-mentioned day, December 21st, 1850, the
patient was confined, pregnancy having lasted only 265 days, 15 days
short of the usual time; the labor was, on the whole, an easy one, and
ended between 6 and 7 o’clock in the evening.
Usual treatment, with cooling compresses, was followed faithfully, and
after the patient resting a little, a thorough ablution in the wash-tub
was given. She slept well during the night.
The patient had long been troubled with piles, and, as usually happens
under such circumstances, she experienced a good deal of trouble from
the affliction at the time of the former birth. So also, at this time,
it came on so bad as almost wholly to prevent her sitting up.
With the view of checking it as soon as might be, we commenced the next
morning with the cold packing-sheet, twenty minutes. She had four baths
in all during the day and evening, the water pretty nearly cold. She
felt all along perfectly well, and would have been able to sit up a good
deal the first day, were it not for the troublesome ailment mentioned.
The second day, and onward through the first week, the treatment
followed was the cold pack in the morning twenty minutes, and the bath
after it; bath in the wash-tub before dinner; the cold pack and bath
again toward evening; the bath again before going to rest; and cold
compresses most or all of the time, night and day.
At the end of the week the patient was so well that she could go about
the house, take charge of her infant herself, and had already dismissed
her nurse. She had suffered no feverishness, no pain, nor any
restlessness at night. Nor was her strength scarcely at all impaired.
It is now more than two months since the birth of her child, and I have
often heard from her, as being in all respects well.
Two important circumstances helped very much in this case; the patient
herself is a very intelligent and assiduous person, and had studied
faithfully and understandingly the method of treatment which, in her
good judgment, she chose to adopt. Her husband, too, had a good
understanding of the matter, and was himself a most faithful nurse.
_Case XVII._—A young lady, just married, emigrated from the city of
Edinburgh, Scotland, early in the summer of 1850. She had been pregnant
one month before starting. She was of delicate health, small stature, of
fair hair and complexion, and, as we would say, of scrofulous tendency.
She had always been sedentary in her habits, and was occupied, for the
most part, sitting and within doors. She had, in short, had but poor
opportunity for the development of her physical powers, and had
contracted a bad lateral curvature of the spine.
The ship’s passage across the Atlantic was a long and boisterous one of
eight weeks; she was a good deal seasick, and after the first week was
compelled, for want of strength, to remain in her berth night and day;
thus she continued for six entire weeks; the eighth, and last week of
the passage, she was able to be out a little.
The patient, together with her husband, took up her residence in the
very heart of this, in the summer, hot and unhealthy city. She had
always been accustomed to a much cooler climate, and now became
necessarily a good deal debilitated. She had lived for a time mostly, or
altogether, upon the vegetarian principle, in the old country; but in
this city she adopted a different course, using coffee, and perhaps tea,
and some other articles not altogether friendly to health.
She consulted me, however, some ten or twelve weeks before confinement.
I advised her at once to avoid flesh-meat, to drink only cold water, and
to bathe and exercise much more than she had been in the habit of doing;
the advice was followed faithfully, and with the happiest effects.
_December 29, 1850._—Sunday morning, at 4 o’clock, her labor ended. For
fifty hours, without intermission, it had continued, depriving her of
rest almost wholly, three nights. Of all the examples of fortitude and
patience which I have ever witnessed under such circumstances, this was
the most remarkable. Notwithstanding the great length of time the labor
lasted, the patient did not at any moment despond, nor did she, to my
knowledge, utter a single word of complaint. At times she would recline;
then again she would sit up, walk about the room, or engage in some
light work. She bathed also repeatedly, as the pains were progressing,
and the ablutions appeared to refresh the system, and support her
strength materially. I repeat, this very worthy lady’s fortitude and
resignation were remarkable, and such as I shall not soon forget.
This, as I have remarked, was her first child. Under such circumstances
there is usually but slight loss of blood. But in this case, owing
perhaps, partly to the patient’s constitution or state of health, and
partly to the severity of her labor, considerable flooding succeeded the
expulsion of the after-birth. To check this, she was at once raised and
put in the cold sitting-bath. The effect was as sudden and as favorable
as could be desired.
The patient had something of after-pains, but not a great deal. Three
and four baths were taken daily, and the cooling compresses were freely
used.
There were circumstances in this case which caused me some trouble in
anticipation; no urine was passed for full thirty-one hours after
delivery. Considering how much had been done in the way of bathing,
water-drinking, and wet compresses, it was singular that such should
have been the case. But no harm whatever occurred in consequence of the
renal secretion being so long prevented.
Day by day, the patient gained strength; it was against her recovery
somewhat that she was obliged to remain in the same room—and a rather
small one—where the family cooking and other work was done. Still,
through great faithfulness and perseverance in the treatment, she
recovered in all respects remarkably well.
The notes I made of the case at the time are as follows:
“_First Day._—Patient was sponged over in bed a number of times,
whenever the cooling compresses were not found sufficient to check the
after-pains. Slept considerably during the first night, but, as is
common after the rest has been broken a number of nights in succession,
the sleep was somewhat disturbed. The compresses were changed very
often. She was not raised up for a bath, as it was thought that, in
consequence of the severity and great length of the labor, she was too
weak.
“_Second Day._—Bath in the wash-tub three times, and body sponged in bed
two or three times besides. Urine was passed thirty-one hours after the
birth. Patient sat up to-day in bed.
“_Third Day._—Bath in the tub four times; the water cold as usual. She
preferred this; it gave her nerve. It made her shake a good deal at the
time, but this circumstance is attended with no danger. Sat up an hour
and a half at a time to-day. Appetite good.”
It was remarkable in this case, that the pulse remained at 100 and
upward for a number of days after delivery; yet the recovery was
certainly highly favorable.
Within the second week the patient was able to go out and walk in the
open air.
In eighteen days she brought her infant in her own arms to my house, a
distance of about one mile, and returned again home, experiencing very
little fatigue.
About six weeks after the delivery she met with an accident, which
caused her considerable suffering. She received a blow upon one of the
breasts, not very severe, but sufficiently so to cause an inflammation,
which ended in abscess, or broken breast, as it is usually termed. By
following up the water processes faithfully, that is, by taking frequent
ablutions, packing-sheets, with compresses constantly upon the breasts,
sometimes tepid and at others cold, according to the feelings of
comfort, she passed through the period of healing much better than is
usually the case with broken breast.
Considering the patient’s constitution, her voyage across the Atlantic,
her residence in the heart of a hot, unhealthy city, the length and
tediousness of her labor, her recovery was remarkable.
_Case XVIII._—This is the case of a young married lady with her first
child. She is of rather nervous temperament; too active naturally for
the good of her system.
_January 11, 1851._—She was confined after a seven hours’ labor. Two or
three days before, she had evidently overdone at ironing and other
household duties, which she was too fond of performing. Her full period
would, I think, have been six to seven weeks later, the birth being
premature, in consequence of the over-exertion alluded to. The child,
however, was above the average weight—a daughter—but did not seem to
possess its full share of vitality.
The usual treatment of ablutions three and four times a day, with
cooling compresses, the wet girdle, clysters, etc., was practiced, and
with the happiest results. The patient sat up, day by day, and
recovered, not quite so rapidly as some, but in all respects well.
_Case XIX._—A lady, thirty-eight years of age, recently married, came to
her confinement the 4th of March, 1851. For two months only she had been
bathing, with reference to her expected time; her health has generally
been very good, and all along, during the period of pregnancy, she
attended personally to her household matters, rendering her little
habitation as perfect a specimen of order and cleanliness as could be
conceived of.
All this tended powerfully to preserve health of body, and cheerfulness
and contentment of mind, circumstances never more important than during
the period of pregnancy.
We would expect, naturally, that a patient at this age would suffer the
first time a severe and protracted labor. But in her case it was far
otherwise. True, for two days previous to delivery she experienced some
symptoms of labor, but was able to be about, and slept considerably
nights. At 10 o’clock, A. M., on the 4th instant, labor had fully
commenced; at 4 P. M., delivery took place; making labor only six hours,
on the whole a short one.
Not long after the birth, the patient was helped into the tub for a
thorough wash. She would have been able, I think, to perform the
ablution herself alone; still, it was thought best that she should make
no effort at the first bath.
It is now the third day since delivery, and the patient has had three or
four ablutions daily in water at 70° Fah. She has used the compresses
freely; the wet girdle much of the time, which she finds to strengthen
her back. She sat up more or less every day, usually after the bath.
The third from the birth, she was going about her room, putting things
in order, feeling in all respects well. The milk was secreted freely,
and she has had no trouble from the breasts, from feverishness, or any
other cause; the infant doing also as well as the mother.
On the sixth day, the patient went from home, taking her infant with
her, on a visit to a friend residing in another street.
LETTER XXXVIII.
CONCLUDING REMARKS.
Hysteria—Its Prevention and Cure—Leucorrhea, or Whites—Falling of the
Womb.
There are two or three topics connected with the diseases of the sex,
respecting which volumes might be written, concerning which I will here
make some practical remarks.
HYSTERIA.
This affection takes its name from _hyster_, the womb. It appears under
such a variety of forms, imitates so many other diseases, and is
attended with such a variety of symptoms, which denote the animal and
vital functions to be considerably disordered, that it is difficult to
give any thing like a rational description of it.
Hysteria attacks usually in paroxysms or fits. “These are sometimes
preceded by dejection of spirits, anxiety of mind, effusion of tears,
difficulty of breathing, sickness at the stomach, and palpitation at the
heart; but it more usually happens that a pain is felt on the left side,
about the flexure of the colon, with a sense of distention, advancing
upward till it gets into the stomach, and, removing from thence into the
throat, it occasions, by its pressure, a sensation as if a ball were
lodged there, which is called _globus hystericus_.” At this time the
patient feels as if she were actually in danger of suffocation, grows
faint, is affected, perhaps, with stupor and insensibility, while at the
same time the body is turned to and fro, the limbs are thrown into
motion, and wild and irregular actions take place, with alternations of
laughter, crying, and screaming. There is also frothing at the mouth,
eructations of wind from the stomach, hiccough not unfrequently, and in
some cases a transient delirium is experienced. The limbs may also
become so rigid that it is not possible for the patient to bend them.
_Treatment._—If the paroxysm be only a slight one, it is as well to
leave the patient quite to herself; but if the fit be a severe one, the
shallow-bath, in a wash-tub, for instance, or the dashing of cold water,
and rubbing the surface well with hands wet in cold water, will be
highly serviceable. If the patient can drink a sufficiency of warm water
to make her vomit, she will experience great relief. The clyster, freely
administered, is also a valuable help.
In regard to the _prevention_ of this disease, all that I have said or
can say concerning the means of fortifying and invigorating the general
health, would be as appropriate in this as in any other place. May I not
hope that when you consider, each and any one of you, how troublesome
this disease is, and how bad a state of things it indicates, that you
will use your best influence upon those around you—that by a correct,
systematic course of living, its attacks may be warded off. It is far
easier, as well as more desirable, to prevent hysteria than to cure it.
LEUCORRHEA, OR WHITES.
This is a very common affection among females, few arriving at full
womanhood without experiencing it. It consists in a puriform discharge
from the vagina, varying in color in different cases, but more commonly
it is of a yellowish white. It always denotes a deteriorated state of
the health, and if allowed to proceed too far, is apt to end in some
worse malady.
The water-treatment is peculiarly adapted to the cure of this ailment.
The great object should be to fortify the general health. For this
object, a good course of hydropathic treatment will in many cases be
necessary. The vaginal injections—not too cold—and sitting-baths are
valuable means.
PROLAPSUS UTERI.
Falling of the womb has latterly become too much a fashionable
complaint. A great many women suppose they have it, merely in
consequence of some unpleasant feeling, and because it is so much talked
about.
I cannot here enter into a lengthy description of this disease; but I
desire, most earnestly, to impress upon your minds the great value of
the water-cure as a means of remedying it. Prolapsus is a disease of
_general debility_, and hence the good effects of the new method in
treating it.
Do not depend too much upon local and mechanical means; these are too
much in vogue at the present day. True, vaginal injections, the wet
girdle, sitting-baths, and in some cases the pessary, are all good in
their place; but the restoration of the WHOLE SYSTEM, remember, is the
great thing.
Those who have this complaint, should be careful not to overdo in
walking or other exercise.
INDEX.
Abortion, 143
Abortion unknown among Indians, 27
Abortion, consequences of, 146
Abortion, causes of, 145
Abortion, prevention of, 147
Abortion, recurrence of, 149
Abortion, evils of, 152
Abortion, cases of, 153
Abortion, dangers of causing, 158
Acute disease in pregnancy, 165
After-pains, 328
Age, marriageable, 34
Air and exercise, 122
Amenorrhea, 61
Austrians, habits of the, 32
Barrenness, 224
Bathing after delivery, 287
Bible account of midwifery, 19
Binder, the, 288
Bladder, the, 232
Blisters, 218
Bloodletting, 220
Breast, inflammation of, 370
Breasts, pain of, 195
Breathing, difficult, 190
Cases of childbirth, 383
Cases of abortion, 153
Catamenia, the, 40
Catamenial discharge, the, 40
Change of life, 55
Change of life, remarks on, 60
Childbirth, cases of, 383
Child, management of the, 292
Child, washing the, 307
Childbed fever, 342
Childbirth among the Indians, 27
Chlorosis, 65
Chlorosis, causes of, 66
Chloroform, 258
Clothing, remarks on, 110
Coffee, 150
Compresses, uses of, 288
Constipation, 173
Courses, the monthly, 40
Costiveness, or constipation, 173
Costiveness, treatment of, 174
Cramp of stomach, 186
Cramp of lower limbs, 195
Delivery, management after, 285
Delivery, bathing after, 287
Diarrhea, 175
Diet in pregnancy, 123
Diet, vegetarian, 127
Difficult breathing, 190
Disease, exposure to, 197
Drink in pregnancy, 129
Dysmenorrhea, 84
Dysmenorrhea, treatment of, 86
Emetics, 219
Ether, 258
Exercise in pregnancy, 122
Exercise in pregnancy, remarks on, 150
Fainting in pregnancy, 139
Fainting, symptoms of, 140
Fainting, results of, 141
Fainting, treatment of, 142
Fallopian tubes, 238
Falling of the womb, 430
Feather beds, 149
Fetus, anatomy of, 243
Fetus, effects of food on the, 124
Fright, effects of, 215
Genital organs, itching of the, 193
Headache, 179
Headache, treatment of, 180
Heart-burn, 169
Heart-burn, treatment of, 170
Hemorrhage, uterine, 162
Hemorrhage, uterine, cases of, 162
Hemorrhage from the stomach, 184
Hemorrhoids, 176
Hemorrhoids, treatment of, 177
History of midwifery, 19
Hysteria, 195
Hysterics, 195
Imagination, the, 207
Indians, childbirth among, 27
Inflammation of the breast, 370
Itching of the genital organs, 193
Jaundice, 189
Labor, 253
Labor, divisions of, 254
Labor, signs of, 260
Labor, stages of, 261
Labor, advice concerning, 280
Lacing, 111
Leucorrhea, 429
Leucorrhea, treatment of, 429
Light, solar, effects of, 118
Limbs, swelling of, 194
Liquor amnii, 264
Lochia, the, 337
Lochial discharge, the, 336
Longing, 204
Marks and blemishes, 208
Marriageable age, 34
Menorrhagia, 81
Menorrhagia, treatment of, 83
Menses, age at which they appear, 37
Menses, names of, 40
Menses, source of, 42
Menses, nature of, 43
Menses, quantity of, 46
Menses, cessation of, 49
Menses, check of, 61
Menses, water-treatment in, 64
Menses, danger of checking the, 79
Menstruation, history of, 34
Menstruation, age at which it commences, 37
Menstruation, symptoms of, 40
Membranes, the, 273
Mental despondency, 201
Midwifery, cases in, 383
Midwifery, history of, 19
Midwifery, Bible account of, 19
Midwifery, American history of, 24
Midwives in France, 23
Midwives in Bible times, 20
Monthly discharge, the, 40
Monthlies, the, 40
Milk-tubes, the, 371
Miscarriage, or abortion, 143
Miscarriage, prevention of, 147
Miscarriage, recurrence of, 149
Morning-sickness, 133, 136
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, 132
Navel, healing of, 300
Nervousness, 200
New Zealanders, habits of, 30
Nipple, the, 371
Nipples, sore, 362
Nursing, 308
Nursing, rules for, 310
Otaheitans, habits of, 29
Ovaries, 240
Pain, natural, 256
Pain, after, 328
Pelvis, female, 230
Physical hindrances in pregnancy, 196
Piles, or hemorrhoids, 176
Piles, treatment of, 177
Placenta, the, 272
Pregnancy, signs of, 92
Pregnancy, duration of, 99
Pregnancy, management in, 108, 118, 123
Pregnancy, disorders of, 132
Pressure, evils of, 112
Prolapsus uteri, 430
Pruritus pudendi, 193
Puberty, 34
Puberty, changes at, 35
Puerperal fever, 342
Puerperal fever, case of, 348
Purgatives, 220
Quadrigemini, 317
Quickening, 96, 100
Raynold, Dr., 21
Right side, pain of, 191
Salivation, 182
Sea-sickness, 136
Sexual indulgence, 149
Shippen, Dr., 24
Signs of pregnancy, 92
Skin, office of the, 113
Sleeplessness, 166
Sleeplessness, treatment of, 167
Solar light, effects of, 118
Sore nipples, 362
Spices, 150
Spinal diseases, xii
Sterility, 224
Still-birth, 301
Stomach, cramp of, 186
Stye in the eye, 181
Tea, coffee, and spices, 150
Tennant, Dr. J. B. V., 25
Toothache, 187
Toothache, treatment of, 188
Triplets, 316
Turn of life, 49
Turn of life, management in, 55
Twins. 316
Twin cases, 322
Umbilical cord, the, 292
Urethra, 232
Urinary difficulties, 185
Uterine hemorrhage, 162
Uterus, 234
Uterus, appendages of, 238
Vaccination, 197
Vagina, 233
Vegetarian diet, 127, 150
Veins, varicose, 194
Viability of the fetus, 103
Villiers, Duchess of, 23
Vomiting in pregnancy, 132
Vomiting in sea-sickness, 136
Water-drinking, 129
Water-drinking in sea-sickness, 136
Waters, the, 264
Whites, the, 429
Womb, falling of the, 430
Womanhood, period of, 36
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