GENERAL THERAPEUTICS OF THE DISEASES OF THE 

 GENITAL ORGANS 



General Considerations. — Of the diseases of the genital organs, 

 the most important are the affections of the uterus and udder. 

 The diseased conditions to which the uterus is liable, especially 

 before, during and after parturition (dystocias, parturient paresis, 

 puerperal septicaemia, catarrh of the uterus), are so numerous and 

 so widely different that it is difficult to outline general principles for 

 their treatment. This is also true of the diverse conditions which 

 affect the udder. There are, however, several groups of medicines 

 which are usually given special consideration in the general thera- 

 peutics of the diseases of the genital organs. These are the 

 ecbolics (uterines), the aphrodisiacs, and the galactagogues. 



With regard to the physiology of the uterus, it is to be observed 

 in connection with the action of the ecbolics that the important 

 nerve centre of the uterus (principal centre, centre of parturition) is 

 situated in the lumbar cord at the first and second lumbar vertebrae. 

 The uterus may be stimulated directly and indirectly, centrally 

 and peripherally, by mechanical, chemical, thermic and electrical 

 stimuli. Mechanical stimuli include pressure and blows from with- 

 out, introduction of foreign bodies into the uterus (the hand, sounds, 

 instruments, injected fluids, air), escape of the amniotic fluid, death 

 of the foetus, specific uterine catarrh in infectious abortion, hyper- 

 aemia and anaemia. Chemical stimuli are the specific uterine drugs 

 (ergot, hydrastis, gossypium and amenyl), and an excess of carbon 

 dioxide in the blood. The thermic stimuli are cold (e.g.j reflexly 

 from the stomach) and heat (fever, hot vaginal injections). Con- 

 tractions of the uterus may also be produced by electrical stimula- 

 tion of the centres, the sacral plexus and the ischiatic nerve. 



Concerning the milk secretion, it is to be noted that the gland 

 cells actively participate in the formation of the specific milk con- 

 stituents and that the process is not exclusively one of transuda- 

 tion, desquamation of epithelial cells and fatty metamorphosis. 

 The casein and the milk sugar are formed entirely in the gland 

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