DROPSY During pregnancy:
-W.Morgon
Attending the latter stages of pregnancy though not always confined to this period, is that passive effusion under the skin which medical men recognise as Anasarca. It simply distends the parts, creeps on gradually, and is chiefly confined to the lower limbs.
Everybody must remember to have seen poor women when in the family way, and to have heard such people severely blamed for running about with their boots unlaced; when the fact is, that had these approaching mothers attempted to fasten the laces, the size of their limbs would have rendered such an effort ridiculous.
This increased dimension of the extremities is provoked by the pressure of the gravid uterus preventing the absorbents from carrying off the fluids of the lower limbs. The best remedy in these cases, and that which should always be tried in the first instance, is lying down with the enlarged limb rather elevated; then to have gentle friction applied outside the stocking till some relief is gained; after which the patient should rise and take a little gentle exercise.
When a lady is subject to this annoyance she should sit as little as possible; but, when resting, should always recline upon the sofa. Few ladies in the upper ranks, however, like to absent themselves from the family dinner, and may suffer acutely while gracing the domestic banquet. During the latter periods, ladies of such a station should always dine alone, for it is idle to imagine good is done to the body by provoking suffering.
There can be nothing approaching to over indulgence in prudently attending to those admonitions which Nature gives a reasonable being whenever she inflicts pain.
The weight that often affects the legs during gestation - the well-known sensation of "pins and needles" - should not be submitted to, but in every instance ought to be regarded as an intimation that a change of position is required.
Should, however, those domestic remedies to which I have alluded fail to afford relief, the patient is entreated to resist the adoption of punctures, purgatives, derivatives, bleedings, and tartar emetic, so heroically inflicted by the worshippers of the temple of Galen; and are recommended to submit themselves to the influence of such remedies as Arsenicum, Dulcamara, Bryonia, Lycopodium, or Sulphur.
It however, becomes a serious consideration when effusion of the extremities terminates in dropsy of the body. When such a change takes place, the pulse is accelerated, feverishness is present, accompanied with more or less pain; the skin is dry, the excretions scanty, the bowels confined, the spirits dejected, the sleep generally absent; or, when present, disturbed by fearful dreams.
Auscultation, which during pregnancy affords to the practised ear the surest and most certain indications, is now difficult to be applied, and often becomes useless to attempt. In such a case, however, the mother need not despair. Instances of general dropsy have occurred when the patient has been delivered of a healthy child, and she herself has subsequently done well. One thing, however, I must endeavour to impress upon those interested in such a subject,-that is, the daily use of the sponge-bath; the resort to exercise, to the limit of the capability; and feeding, especially, upon the lightest and most nourishing diet.
These measures together with an occasional resort to some of the following medicines, generally afford relief without weakening the patient, for whose condition the books written by Allopathists seem not to have the smallest consideration.
The measures which I have before recounted are now more than ever, by these gentlemen, insisted upon, notwithstanding that the weakness of the lady claims all sympathy and support. Arsenicum, Bryonia, Cantharis, Digitalis, China and Sulphur, are among the chief remedies to be consulted for such a condition.
Attending the latter stages of pregnancy though not always confined to this period, is that passive effusion under the skin which medical men recognise as Anasarca. It simply distends the parts, creeps on gradually, and is chiefly confined to the lower limbs.
Everybody must remember to have seen poor women when in the family way, and to have heard such people severely blamed for running about with their boots unlaced; when the fact is, that had these approaching mothers attempted to fasten the laces, the size of their limbs would have rendered such an effort ridiculous.
This increased dimension of the extremities is provoked by the pressure of the gravid uterus preventing the absorbents from carrying off the fluids of the lower limbs. The best remedy in these cases, and that which should always be tried in the first instance, is lying down with the enlarged limb rather elevated; then to have gentle friction applied outside the stocking till some relief is gained; after which the patient should rise and take a little gentle exercise.
When a lady is subject to this annoyance she should sit as little as possible; but, when resting, should always recline upon the sofa. Few ladies in the upper ranks, however, like to absent themselves from the family dinner, and may suffer acutely while gracing the domestic banquet. During the latter periods, ladies of such a station should always dine alone, for it is idle to imagine good is done to the body by provoking suffering.
There can be nothing approaching to over indulgence in prudently attending to those admonitions which Nature gives a reasonable being whenever she inflicts pain.
The weight that often affects the legs during gestation - the well-known sensation of "pins and needles" - should not be submitted to, but in every instance ought to be regarded as an intimation that a change of position is required.
Should, however, those domestic remedies to which I have alluded fail to afford relief, the patient is entreated to resist the adoption of punctures, purgatives, derivatives, bleedings, and tartar emetic, so heroically inflicted by the worshippers of the temple of Galen; and are recommended to submit themselves to the influence of such remedies as Arsenicum, Dulcamara, Bryonia, Lycopodium, or Sulphur.
It however, becomes a serious consideration when effusion of the extremities terminates in dropsy of the body. When such a change takes place, the pulse is accelerated, feverishness is present, accompanied with more or less pain; the skin is dry, the excretions scanty, the bowels confined, the spirits dejected, the sleep generally absent; or, when present, disturbed by fearful dreams.
Auscultation, which during pregnancy affords to the practised ear the surest and most certain indications, is now difficult to be applied, and often becomes useless to attempt. In such a case, however, the mother need not despair. Instances of general dropsy have occurred when the patient has been delivered of a healthy child, and she herself has subsequently done well. One thing, however, I must endeavour to impress upon those interested in such a subject,-that is, the daily use of the sponge-bath; the resort to exercise, to the limit of the capability; and feeding, especially, upon the lightest and most nourishing diet.
These measures together with an occasional resort to some of the following medicines, generally afford relief without weakening the patient, for whose condition the books written by Allopathists seem not to have the smallest consideration.
The measures which I have before recounted are now more than ever, by these gentlemen, insisted upon, notwithstanding that the weakness of the lady claims all sympathy and support. Arsenicum, Bryonia, Cantharis, Digitalis, China and Sulphur, are among the chief remedies to be consulted for such a condition.
Comments
Post a Comment
PLEASE WRITE YOUR SYMPTOMS HERE TO GET SUGGESTION.