Dysmenorrhoea

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVI, Issue 3, 1 July 1923, Page 127

Dysmenorrhoea

Possibly a record of two cases of very severe dysmehorrhcea and the treatment may be of interest to readers of your journal : The first was the case of a young woman, aged 26, who was engaged in business. So severe was her pain that it compelled her to keep to her bed for at least two days every month. She consulted mo as to the advisability of a radical operation, as she was becoming alarmed at the amount of opiate that was necessary to ease the pain. The administration of spasmodin gave instant relief, and now, a year afterwards, she informs me she has never been away from office for a single day, and that she has entirely dropped the use of opiates. The second case was that of a probationer in a public hospital. In her case her distress was such that she was advised to give up nursing. The use of the same drug gave her similar complete relief, and she has now been able to continue her studies without interruption. Similar cases could be quoted ad inftnitum, but the above, with their crippling effects may be sufficient. This drug has, I believe, been used at the Mayo Clinic for some time past with excellent results, and as T have myself given it an extensive trial

with, in most cases, great benefit, it has occurred to me that its scope for usefulness might be more extensively recognised through the readers of your journal. The second case which I have quoted above suggests that matrons of large hos pitals might be able to bring its administration where necessary to those under their care, with similar good- results. Amongst the advantages of the treatment are that, firstly, the drug, being by no means palatable, can never become a habit; secondly, that as it probably only acts when the pain is due to spasm, it will indicate by giving no relief those cases where organic obstruction exists, for which early surgical treatment is indicated. A prescription that I have found most serviceable is as follows: R/ Phenazonum, gr. v. Liq. Sedans, 1 dr. Sod. Brom., -grs. v. Spasmodin, m. vii. Mucilage, q.s. Aq. Chlorof. ad oz. ss. Lig. — A tablespoonful in water as soon as discomfort is felt. May be repeated in s'x hours if necessary. W. E. HERBERT, M.D., F.R.C.S., Ed.