DISEASES PECULIAR TO WOMEN 603 



ment of the uterus, this difficulty may often be cured. 

 In many cases the ovary cannot be restored perma- 

 nently to position, but by proper treatment, the ovary 

 can be brought into a healthy state so that pain and 

 tenderness will disappear, and thus a practical cure 

 will be obtained. The means for accomplishing this 

 are the hot vaginal douche, the prolonged cool sitz (80° 

 to 70°, for ten to twenty minutes), the wet girdle, and 

 improvement of the general health. The bowels must 

 be made regular. Continence is essential. 



Rectocele.— This is a condition in which the pos- 

 terior wall of the vagina is greatly relaxed and pulls 

 forward, dragging with it, also, the anterior portion of 

 the rectal wall. This forms a pouch in which the feces 

 sometimes accumulate, and into which they are pressed 

 when attempting to move the bowels, making it nec- 

 essary to press the parts back in order to secure a 

 movement. The most frequent cause is a tear of the 

 perineum at childbirth. Cases of this sort * require 

 a surgical operation. We have found it necessary to 

 perform this operation in many cases, and have uni- 

 formly met with most happy results. 



Treatment.— In this condition, as well as in various 

 forms of displacement of the womb, elevation and sup- 

 port of the abdominal organs is required, as well as 

 surgical measures. In many cases surgical measures 

 are not needed if the abdominal organs are properly 

 supported. 



Cystocele, or Prolapsus of the Bladder.— This 

 is a condition somewhat similar to the preceding, only 

 involving the front wall of the vagina, the back wall 

 being dragged down to the vaginal wall, which forms 

 a pouch bulging out at the vaginal entrance. The 

 patient experiences difficulty in evacuating the bladder. 



