DISEASES PECULIAR TO WOMEN 617 



discovered at the earliest possible moment, and the 

 operation performed at once, before the infection has 

 extended to the adjacent tissues and organs. 



Deficient Development of the Womb and Ovaries. 

 —This condition is indicated by the failure of the men- 

 strual period to make its appearance at the proper age, 

 sometimes a masculine appearance of the patient, and 

 frequently a slight growth of hair upon the upper lip. 

 Cases of this sort require very skilful management, and 

 should not be neglected. No good can be derived from 

 the use of medicines of any sort, but such methods of 

 treatment should be adopted as will improve the gen- 

 eral nutrition, upon which the disorder depends. 



Ovarian Tumor.— This condition, sometimes known 

 as ovarian dropsy, was formerly regarded as an utterly 

 hopeless malady; but it may be cured by removal of 

 the diseased ovary, with the morbid growth which has 

 developed. This operation, known as ovariotomy, is 

 one of the greatest triumphs of modern surgery. The 

 cyst sometimes attains enormous size. The danger to 

 life from the operation is greatly increased, by great 

 size, and by the inflammation excited by the pressure 

 to which the surrounding tissues are subjected, often 

 causing adhesion to the abdominal walls. It was for- 

 merly supposed that operation in these cases should 

 be deferred until the tumor had acquired considerable 

 size; but it is now generally considered that it should 

 be performed as early as possible, and ]3atients man- 

 aged in this way are almost certain to recover. 



For the best results in these cases, it is necessary 

 that the patient should be operated upon in a well- 

 equipped and skilfully managed hospital, by a compe- 

 tent and experienced surgeon, skilled in this particular 

 line of surgical work. The patient must be eared for 



