DISEASES PECULIAR TO WOMEN 601 



an isolated one; it is usually found in connection with 

 abdominal displacements of various other organs of 

 the trunk. In 150 cases of uterine displacements we 

 found but four or five in which there was not displace- 

 ment of other organs besides the womb. Displacement 

 of the stomach and bowels was found in nearly every 

 case; the right kidney was movable or floating in 

 twenty-six cases, and the liver was prolapsed in five 

 cases. The little success which has attended the treat- 

 ment of retroversion, even by means of operations of 

 various kinds and the notorious inefficiency of mechan- 

 ical supports which not only fail of curing disease, but 

 not infrequently aggravate the morbid conditions which 

 are present with it, such as ulceration, inflammation, 

 etc.,— is unquestionably due to the failure to recognize 

 the fact that retroversion of the womb, as well as other 

 forms of uterine displacement, is not an isolated condi- 

 tion, at least in a great majority of cases, but is only 

 a single element in a general state of disorder affecting 

 nearly all the organs of the trunk. 



It is evident, then, that the successful treatment of 

 this condition requires something more than treatment 

 of the womb itself; the organs must be lifted up into 

 place and supported. The abdominal muscles must 

 be developed by gymnastics, massage, and electricity, 

 manual Swedish movements, exercises of various sorts 

 carefully adapted to each individual case, so that the 

 support of the abdominal organs may be rendered per- 

 manent. These measures alone will, now and then, 

 effect a cure, but cases in which a recovery can be 

 effected thus easily are very rare. In the great major- 

 ity of cases additional measures are necessary, the 

 uterus must be restored to position and must be held 

 in place. This can be conveniently done by means of 



