The Practitioner's Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases of Women (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 Excerpt: ...not troublesome but if it prove so, tamponade with sterile gauze will arrest it quickly. That an imperforate hymen proves an obstacle to the escape of menstrual blood goes without saying. The following case will illustrate the diagnosis and treatment of imperforate hymen (atresia) producing retention of the menstrual blood in the vagina (hematocolpos). Miss S. L., age 18, stenographer, in otherwise good health complained of periodic pains in the back and groins. At certain times the pains would be worse. She has never menstruated. Her family physician had told her that she was anemic and that the pains would disappear as soon as menstruation was established; he had prescribed iron and tonics. Her family physician being out of town she visited another physician who showed his superior knowledge of gynecology by prescribing a preparation containing viburnum prunifolium and advising hot sitz-baths. Three months of such treatment failed to accomplish the desired results. I insisted on an examination. Her mother, who was present, consented, provided I promised not to "rupture her maidenhead." On separating the labia majora and minora I was astonished to find the entrance to the vagina filled by what, at the first glance, appeared to be a fluctuating tumor. Careful examination showed that it was the hymen closing the vaginal orifice entirely, without any opening, behind which, no doubt, there was accumulated blood. The mother grasped the situation easily and permitted me to insert a trocar. Clotted blood came away in large masses. I attached a fountain syringe to the canula and irrigated in this way until no more blood came away. The puncture was prevented from closing by the frequent introduction of sounds and the patient made a good recovery. Certain ...