[Woman’s department 503]

The Symptoms of the Chronic Variety are due to congestion and adhesions.  There is a constant pain in the region of the tube and the patient protects herself when she walks, rides or sits down.  There are difficult, painful monthly periods and too much flow.  The history shows gonorrhea or septic infection, that is, disease caused by the absorption of products of putrefaction.

Treatment of the Acute Kind.—­First thing is absolute rest and quiet in bed.  Then prolonged hot injections in the vagina of hot water, and if you wish, one teaspoonful of listerine, etc., in each injection.  Put a hot-water bag to the sore side, or fomentations of different remedies, like hops, catnip, pennyroyal, smart-weed.  The applications should not be of great weight.  The bowels should be kept open.

For Chronic Variety.—­This frequently calls for an operation.  When the symptoms are due to inflammation in the tube alone, ten per cent strength of ichthyol and glycerin tampons placed behind the lower part of the womb three times a week do much to improve the condition.

This is an unfortunate disease, and it must be closely watched for symptoms that may arise from a pus condition.  There are many cases of this kind in our public hospitals, and when they are due to gonorrhea they may have been caused by the husband who had an acute or latent gonorrhea—­an attack he thought cured.

DISEASES OF THE OVARY.

Inflammation of the Ovary or Ovaritis.—­This is an inflammation of the ovary and it may be either acute or chronic.

In the acute form the ovary is slightly enlarged and the follicles on the circumference are distended and filled with thick fluid or pus.

In the chronic variety the ovary may be small and contain cysts; there is a destruction of the follicles and a hardened condition develops.  The function of the ovary is then impaired.

Causes.—­Gonorrhea, septic infection from adjacent tissues, acute fever diseases, mumps, and peritonitis.  Falling (prolapse) often gives rise to chronic inflammation.

Symptoms.—­Pain in the lower abdomen (pelvis), difficult and painful menstruation, too much monthly flow (menorrhagia), and painful intercourse.

Treatment.—­Ichthyol (ten percent) and glycerin tampons placed behind the lower back part of the womb three times a week.  The bowels should be kept open with salts.  The diet should be milk or liquid.  Sometimes an operation is necessary.  In the department on operations this subject will be touched upon in regard to operations.

Physicians’ treatment.—­Change of the mode of life, and proper hygienic measures will generally be all that is needed.

[504 Mothers’ remedies]

Tumors of the ovary.—­Cystoma is the most common tumor of the ovary.  The word “cystoma” means a cyst tumor, or cystic tumor.  A cyst means a cavity containing fluid and surrounded by a covering (capsule).  Ovarian cyst or tumors is often seen in print these days.  Ovarian tumor takes in the cystic variety, cancer and sarcoma, two malignant tumors.