596 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



gans, resulting from prolapsus of the abdominal con- 

 tents, causing compression of the ovaries and inter- 

 ference with the venous circulation. There is no 

 better means of affording permanent relief in these 

 cases than properly regulated gymnastics, by means 

 of which the abdominal muscles are developed and 

 strengthened, the depressed bowels elevated, the cir- 

 culation of blood through the abdominal muscles 

 accelerated, and thus a normal condition established. 

 The hot vaginal douche, rest in bed in extreme cases, 

 hot hip pack, sitz bath two or three times a week, cool 

 morning sponge bath, regulation of the bowels, healthy 

 mental state, and improvement in the general health 

 and vigor, are the most effectual means of remedying 

 difficulties of this nature. Local applications of elec- 

 tricity are of great value in sjaecial cases. We have 

 found the greatest relief given by the sinusoidal elec- 

 trical current, although the faradic and galvanic cur- 

 rents are often useful. 



Inflammation of the Ovaries. —The principal 

 symptoms are sudden pain in one or both groins, some- 

 times extending down the legs, frequently pain in the 

 breast of the affected side, increase of pain during 

 menstruation, with tenderness on pressure, pain in 

 moving the bowels, general distress, nausea, more or 

 less fever. The most common causes are taking cold 

 during menstruation, mechanical injury, anteflexion, 

 or gonorrhea. 



Treatment.— In this class of cases the patient should 

 have absolute rest in bed. A hot hip pack may be ad- 

 ministered daily, followed by a vaginal douche; alter- 

 nate hot and cold sponging of the spine is a measure 

 of value. These measures of treatment, particularly 

 the vaginal douche, may be repeated several times a 



