A Text-book of Diseases of WomenPenrose, Charles B. (Charles Bingham)
Science
A Text-book of Diseases of Women
Penrose, Charles B. (Charles Bingham)
Women -- Diseases
Acute inflammation of the vagina is usually of gonorrheal origin. A
thorough examination of the condition can be made only by placing
the woman in the knee-chest position and by exposing the vagina by
retracting the perineum with the Sims speculum. The whole vaginal tube,
especially the posterior wall near the ostium and the fornices, should
be carefully inspected.
_Gonorrhea of the vulva_ may arise primarily, or it may be caused by
infection from discharge from the vagina or the cervix. Like gonorrhea
of the vagina, it is rare in the adult woman. It is usually seen in
girls or in young women. Its occurrence in children has already been
referred to.
The disease may extend to the small glands of the vestibule and the
fourchette and to Bartholini’s glands; in these situations it may
lurk for many years, forming a source of infection to men and a great
element of danger to the woman. Suppuration of the glands of the
vestibule may result in small urethral fistulæ.
In making an examination of the external genitals the parts should
always be thoroughly exposed and the physician should attempt to
express the fluid from the orifices of the glands. Microscopic
examination of the discharge should be made.
Inflammation of any of the glands of the external genitals is usually
the result of gonorrhea.
When the physician examines a woman suspected of gonorrhea, she
should not prepare herself beforehand by vaginal douches and washing
the external genitals. The urine should not have been voided for
some time. Prostitutes, fearing that gonorrhea will be discovered,
often remove all discharges as much as possible before they submit to
examination. Other women do the same from motives of cleanliness. As
the diagnosis depends upon observation of the origin and character of
the discharges, such preparation should be avoided.
As has already been said, it may be advisable in doubtful cases to
make the examination immediately after a menstrual period, when the
discharges are more profuse and perhaps more virulent than at other
times. The examiner should always proceed methodically, and should
inspect every portion of the external genitals, the vagina, and
the cervix. The vestibule, the external meatus, the urethra, the
fourchette, the glands of Bartholini, the vaginal walls, the external
os, and the cervical canal should in turn be examined. Discharges
obtained from these structures should be saved and submitted to
microscopic examination.
Though the gonococcus is by no means always found in cases the specific
character of which is proved by infection of the man, yet it would
escape observation much less often if such thorough examination were
made.
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