The treatment of this affection is greatly modified or influenced by a
knowledge of the causation of the inflammation. In every case, however,
the patient should take to her bed. If there is a profuse vaginal
secretion it should be ascertained if the disease is of infectious
origin, and where this is suspected, the vaginal canal should be
thoroughly rinsed with an antiseptic solution of corrosive chloride of
mercury in the proportion of one grain of the sublimate to two thousand
grains or parts of water, or about fifteen grains to the half gallon
of water. There are tablets to be had at the drug stores which contain
the requisite amount of corrosive when added to a given quantity of
water; these are preferable and more convenient than the crude drug,
and as they are a _deadly poison_ they should be kept under lock and
key. There is nothing to equal the corrosive for an offensive vaginal
discharge, for it is the most reliable disinfectant there is in the
entire pharmacopœa. Half a gallon of this solution should be used at
a time, and after the vaginal canal has been thoroughly disinfected,
about a pint of the same solution must be passed through the uterine
cavity by means of a double catheter, that has a reverse flow and is
especially made for the purpose. To insure against mercurial poisoning
I am in the habit of following mercurial irrigations with warm water,
that was previously sterilized by boiling. One pint of the simple water
is generally sufficient to displace all the mercurial water that might
have remained in the uterine or vaginal cavities. These medicated
irrigations should have an average temperature of 105 degrees Fahr. and
be repeated daily for about a week.
If the vaginal secretion is not of a specific nature, then the Femina
antiseptic uterine lotion is a safer remedy.
Ice bags applied over the regions of the painful ovaries check the
acute inflammation from going into suppuration and forming an abscess.
Should the latter be found to exist, it should be opened by means of a
trocar or aspirator. The bowels should be kept free by taking a daily
dose of Femina laxative tablets.
CHRONIC OVARITIS.
If an acute inflammation does not terminate in prompt recovery or an
abscess it may lose its fiery nature and tone down into a low grade
of prolonged congestion which does not go on to the production of
suppuration. This would constitute the chronic form of inflammation.
It does not follow that all chronic inflammations are preceded by the
acute form, for there are inflammations that are subacute from the
beginning, that is, that there is not the heat nor feverishness in the
tissues which is one of the principal features of the acute process.