GONORRHŒA IN THE FEMALE.
This disease is rarely so violent as in man, it being mostly confined to the uterine conduit; in fact, except by the discharge, women are almost unconscious of its existence, mistaking it, when occurring in married life, for leucorrhœa. Occasionally, however, the inflammation is highly acute, and a variety of distressing symptoms ensue. There is considerable excoriation around, and a swelling of the organs, much ardor urinæ, and the same constitutional disturbance as in the other sex.
The medical treatment of both sexes is constitutionally alike; but the female has to depend more upon local treatment than the male. Hence the importance of injections. Now here is another source of difficulty: women are as averse to the use of the syringe as they are to the speculum; and the consequence is, vaginal diseases are generally protracted to double as long as they need be. However, as these hints are likely to be seen only by those who doubtlessly have, and who indisputably ought, to exercise it, namely, influence over the sex in persuading them to submit to what common sense bespeaks as most prudent and expedient, appropriate formulæ for the suggestions just recommended will be found a few pages hence. Frequent ablution, rest, temperate diet—the more farinaceous and mucilaginous the better, avoiding entirely wines, fermented and spirituous liquors, together with mild (Form 63) aperients and salines, constitute the chief means of cure. Injections are indispensable.
I have already alluded to the difficulty of getting female patients to be their own confessors. If they appoint others, every possible information should be furnished, and fastidiousness by no means should supplant the avowal of real facts. Although gonorrhœa in women is generally less severe than in the male, it is vexingly oftentimes more lasting; which is easily accounted for, owing to the extent of surface diseased: whereas in man it is limited to the narrow urethra, and seldom exceeds an inch or two upward, constituting not one tithe part of the space morbidly affected in the former. See, however, the formulæ.