Book 2
11
Sometimes the whole uterus has protruded from its seat, and lodged on the woman’s thighs; an incredible affliction! yet neither has the uterus not been thus seen, nor are the causes which produce it such as do not occur. For the membranes which are inserted into the flanks, being the nervous (ligamentous?) supporters of the uterus, are relaxed; those at the fundus, which are inserted into the loins, are narrow; but those at its neck, on each side to the flanks, are particularly nervous and broad, like the sails of a ship. All these, then, give way if the uterus protrude outwardly, wherefore this procidentia generally proves fatal; for it takes place from abortion, great concussions, and laborious parturition. Or if it do not prove fatal, the women live for a long time, seeing parts which ought not to be seen, and nursing externally and fondling the womb. It would appear that, of the double membrane of the womb, the internal lining coat is sometimes torn from the contiguous one, for there are two transverse plates of the coat; this, then, is thrown off with the flux, and in abortion and laborious parturition, when it adheres to the placenta. For if it be forcibly pulled, the coat of the uterus being stretched, ..... But if the woman do not die, it is either restored to its seat, or but a small part appears externally, for the woman conceals it with her thighs. Sometimes the mouth of the womb only, as far as the neck, protrudes, and retreats inwardly if the uterus be made to smell to a fetid fumigation; and the woman also attracts it if she smells to fragrant odours. But by the hands of the midwife it readily returns inwards when gently pressed, and if anointed beforehand with the emollient plasters for the womb.
CHAPTER XII. ON ARTHRITIS AND SCHIATICA.
