2.  If the patient’s nervous system is run down the “Rest Cure” will be of benefit, and medicines to strengthen the nerves.  Exercise, outdoor life, horseback riding are of great benefit in toning the system.

3.  Fluid extract of blue cohosh is a good medicine in this disease, especially if there is some rheumatism during the interval.  One or two drops every hour will be enough.

4.  Tincture of Pulsatilla in doses of three drops every hour is good for the pain, especially in blonde girls and women.

5.  Tincture of Cocculus I have found to be of great benefit.  Put five drops of a good pure tincture into a glass half full of water and give two teaspoonfuls every ten to fifteen minutes until relieved.  This I give in cases I am called to and have not the time then to find out what the real cause may be.

Displacements.—­Turning back or retro-displacements.  This includes retro-version and retro-flexion.  Retro-version means turning back, in plain terms.  Retro-flexion means bending back, bending of the body of the womb, or the neck, backward.  Retro-flexion is more common than retro-version.

Causes.—­Some are congenital, that is, from birth, and a few are the result of some injury, falls or blows.  It is more often found in child-bearing women, and this may be due to the fact that the womb has not returned to its normal size and weight, and therefore there is more weight for the ligaments to hold up.  The ligaments often relax and do not support the womb as thoroughly as before.

Symptoms.—­Backache, a sense of weight in the lower abdomen, difficult menstruation, leucorrhea, sterility, or repeated abortion and constipation.  The constipation is often due to the womb lying on the rectum.

[Woman’s department 509]

Treatment.—­This is to replace the womb and keep it in position.  Supports of various kinds are used to keep the womb in position after it has been replaced, They must fit thoroughly and give no pain or any discomfort whatever.  They are called supports or pessaries.  If they are fitted properly they do much good.  They should be removed often (every month) and not allowed to grow fast or cause sores in the vagina.  There are the ring support and the stem variety and others.  The stem variety can be taken out and replaced by wearer at any time.  They are made to buckle around the abdomen.  They are bungling but effective.  The ring kind should be introduced by a competent person who should see that it is of correct size and shape, and worn with comfort.  Sometimes these supports fail to cure when adhesions and other diseases exist; it may be impossible to wear them.

Operations.—­One operation is to break up the adhesions, the body of the womb brought forward and sewn (sutured) to the abdominal wall.  Another operation is to shorten the round ligaments in the inguinal (groin) canal.  These are the usual operations, and they are quite successful.