_Of Dropsy of the Womb._
Uterine dropsy is an unnatural swelling, caused by the collection of
wind or phlegm in the cavity, membranes or substance of the womb, on
account of the want of innate heat and of sufficient alimentation, and
so it turns into an excrescence. The causes are, too much cold and
moisture of the milt and liver, immoderate drinking, eating
insufficiently cooked meat, all of which by causing repletion, overpower
the natural heat. It may likewise be caused by undue menstruation, or by
any other immoderate evacuation. To these may be added abortions,
subcutaneous inflammations and a hardened swelling of the womb.
SIGNS.
The signs of this affection are as follows:--The lower parts of the
stomach, with the genitals, are swollen and painful; the feet swell, the
natural colour of the face is lost, the appetite becomes depraved, and
there is a consequent heaviness of the whole body. If the woman turns
over in bed a noise like flowing water is heard, and sometimes water is
discharged from the womb. If the swelling is caused by wind and the
stomach feels hot, it sounds like a drum; the bowels rumble, and the
wind escapes through the neck of the womb with a murmuring noise. This
affection may be distinguished from true conception in many ways, as
will be shown in the chapter on _conception_. It is distinguished from
common dropsy, by the lower parts of the stomach being most swollen.
Again, it does not appear so injurious in this blood-producing
capability, nor is the urine so pale, nor the face so altered. The upper
parts are also not so reduced, as in usual dropsy.
PROGNOSTICS.
This affection foretells the ruin of the natural functions, by that
peculiar sympathy it has with the liver, and that, therefore,
_kathydria_, or general dropsy will follow.
CURE.
In the cure of this disease, imitate the practice of Hippocrates, and
first mitigate the pain with fomentations of melilot, dog's mercury,
mallows, linseed, camomiles and althoea. Then let the womb be prepared
with syrup of stoebis, hyssop, calamint, mugwort, with distilled water,
a decoction of elder, marjoram, sage, origan, spearage, pennyroyal, and
betony. Purge with senna, agaric, rhubarb, and claterium. Take spicierum
hier, a scruple each of rhubarb, agaric lozenges, and make into pills
with iris juice.
When diseases arise from moistness, purge with pills, and in those
affections which are caused by emptiness or dryness, purge by means of a
draught. Apply cupping glasses to the stomach and also to the navel,
especially if the swelling be flatulent. Put a seton on to the inside of
each leg, the width of a hand below the knee. Take two drachms each of
sparganium, diambrae, diamolet, diacaliminti, diacinamoni, myrrh
lozenges, and a pound of sugar; make these into lozenges with betony
water, and take them two hours before meals. Apply a little bag of
camomiles, cummin and melilot boiled in oil of rue, to the bottom of the
stomach as hot as it can be borne; anoint the stomach and the privates
with unguent agripp, and unguent aragon. Mix iris oil with it, and cover
the lower part of the stomach with a plaster of bay berries, or a
cataplasm made of cummin, camomiles, briony root, adding cows' and
goats' dung.
Our modern medical writers ascribe great virtues to tobacco-water,
injected into the womb by means of a clyster. Take a handful each of
balm of southernwood, origanum, wormwood, calamint, bay berries and
marjoram, and four drachms of juniper berries; make a decoction of these
in water, and use this for fomentations and infusions. Make pessaries of
storax, aloes, with the roots of dictam, aristolochia and gentian, but
instead of this you may use the pessary prescribed at the end of Chapter
XVII. Let her take aromatic electuary, disatyrion and candied eringo
roots, every morning.
The air must be hot and dry, moderate exercise is to be taken and too
much sleep prohibited. She may eat the flesh of partridges, larks,
grouse, hares, rabbits, etc., and let her drink diluted urine.
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