The most suitable rubber bag for this purpose is a size of six by twelve inches; it should be filled with broken pieces, and then securely tied. I prefer to envelop the bag in a thin layer of flannel, so as to take off the cold, clammy sensation which the rubber imparts to the skin. There should be two of these bags, in case of accidentally tearing one, and so that the reserved one may be in readiness when the other is removed. The cold does not only check and control the inflammation, but it also benumbs the nerves, so that it greatly relieves pain. I keep these ice bags applied over the region of the womb, until all the acute symptoms disappear. The vagina, however, should be irrigated with medium hot borax water, once a day, so as to remove any irritating discharge from the uterine cavity. The digestive derangements that so often accompany acute metritis; the nausea and vomiting of this and kindred diseases, are alleviated by this formula:— NO. IX. Take: Subcarbonate of bismuth 2 drams Bicarbonate of sodium 2 drams Tr. of opium, deodorized 2 drams Tr. of nux vomica 1 dram Simple syrup 1 ounce Peppermint water, sufficient to make 6 ounces Mix, and take a tablespoonful every one or two hours, until relieved; to allay the thirst and dryness, take small pieces of ice. Constipation of the bowels should be relieved by taking a Femina laxative tablet every six hours until the stools are freely moved; after that one should be taken every night or perhaps every other night, so as to keep the system regulated. Some persons suffer from costiveness because they do not drink enough water, and when taking medicines to correct this disorder it is always well to drink a large tumblerful of water at the same time, and especially at bedtime, three or more hours after supper, and early in the morning is another good time for drinking water and taking a laxative. CHAPTER XVI. CHRONIC METRITIS OR CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE WOMB. WHEN from neglected or improper treatment, the acute inflammation is not checked, so as to restore the organ to its normal condition, the inflammatory process assumes a chronic character. As inflammation is an _abnormal vital activity_, which results in the proliferation or building up of fibrous tissue, it must be naturally inferred that if the inflammatory process is active in an organ for a considerable length of time, the tissues of this organ must grow or increase, so as to augment its size and weight. This is indeed so, hence the other names that have been given to this disease to distinguish it from the acute or transient form, all imply _tissue growth_, as hypergenesis of the connective tissue, engorgement or inflammatory hypertrophy of the uterus.