DISEASES PECULIAR TO WOMEN 593 



small growths known as "vegetations." These must 

 be removed by an operation known as curetting. The 

 operation is a very simple one, and is perfectly safe 

 when performed under aseptic conditions, that is, when 

 all the necessary precautions are taken to prevent in- 

 fection and inflammation. The only discouraging fea- 

 ture of these cases is that the growths are very likely 

 to return; curetting alone is not usually sufficient to 

 effect a radical cure. It is sometimes necessary to 

 treat the cavity of the uterus by the employment of 

 galvanic electricity. We believe this to be the most 

 effective means of making a radical cure in these cases. 



Hemorrhage from the Womb.— A profuse flow 

 of blood from the womb, occurring at any other time 

 than the menstrual period, is a hemorrhage, and not 

 menstruation. The flow of blood is sometimes so pro- 

 fuse as to endanger life. 



Treatment .—For most cases of this description the 

 measures of treatment to be adopted are the same as 

 for the preceding disease; but in severe cases more 

 active measures must be employed. The patient 

 should, of course, remain quiet in bed with the feet 

 and hips elevated. Heat should be applied to the 

 spine, and cold bags or compresses over the lower 

 abdomen. Hot alum douches (a tablespoonful to a 

 quart of water) should be administered, and repeated 

 every two or three hours if necessary. If the flow con- 

 tinues, a tampon consisting of equal parts of powdered 

 alum and sugar (half a tablespoonful of each) may 

 be applied. The alum and sugar should be wrapped 

 up in one or two thicknesses of cheese-cloth, the edges 

 of the cloth being gathered together and tied, the string 

 being left long so that it can be removed when desired. 

 Even these measures sometimes fail; in such cases, a 



