DISEASES PECULIAR TO WOMEN 595 



quiet, and great care should be used to keep the ex- 

 tremities well warmed. The use of electricity is a 

 very valuable aid in numerous cases, but its appli- 

 cation requires the services of a physician, who should 

 always be employed in severe cases when within 

 reach. 



In many cases of this form of disease, the suffer- 

 ing is so great that the constant dread of its periodical 

 repetition becomes a source of great unhappiness, and 

 casts a gloom over the life of an individual who would 

 otherwise be happy. 



In addition to the measures above suggested, cases 

 of this character sometimes require curetting or 

 scraping of the interior of the womb, or dilating the 

 neck of the womb, or the employment of both measures. 

 Often, however, it is necessary that applications of gal- 

 vanic electricity should be made to the interior of the 

 organ at frequent intervals for a few weeks, in order 

 to effect a radical cure. 



Ovarian Irritation.— The symptoms of this mal- 

 ady are tenderness in the groin, pain in walking or 

 standing, and more or less continuous dull pain, which 

 is greatly aggravated at the menstrual period, the lat- 

 ter being generally induced by a chill, which is quicklj^' 

 followed by a fever, resembling that present in inflam- 

 mation of the ovaries. The most common causes of 

 ovarian irritation are self-abuse, sexual excesses, im- 

 proper dress, taking cold at the menstrual period, dis- 

 appointment in love, abortion, constipation of the bow- 

 els, inflammation and displacement of the uterus, the 

 opium habit, the use of '^ preventives. " Cases of this 

 sort require skilful medical care and management. 



Treatment.— Quite a large proportion of all cases 

 of ovarian irritation are due to congestion of the or- 



