Читать книгу On the Curability of Certain Forms of Insanity, Epilepsy, Catalepsy, and Hysteria in Females онлайн

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Long and frequent observation convinced me that a large number of affections peculiar to females, depended on loss of nerve power, and that this was produced by peripheral irritation, arising originally in some branches of the pudic nerve, more particularly the incident nerve supplying the clitoris, and sometimes the small branches which supply the vagina, perinæum, and anus.

Closer observation satisfied me that the greater or less severity of the functional affections observed, depended on the amount and length of irritation, and the consequent amount of loss of nerve power.

Nor are functional disorders the only consequence, but in some cases, severe organic lesions.

The progress of the disease may be divided into eight distinct stages—No. 8 being arrived at, by gradations more or less distinct, directly from No. 1.

1. Hysteria (including dyspepsia and menstrual irregularities).

2. Spinal Irritation, with reflex action on uterus, ovaries, &c., and giving rise to uterine displacements, amaurosis, hemiplegia, paraplegia, &c.