The use of morphine and other strong sedatives in gynaecological practice / by Hunter Robb.

  • Robb, Hunter, 1863-1940.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The use of morphine and other strong sedatives in gynaecological practice / by Hunter Robb. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    THE USE OF MORPHINE AND OTHER STRONG SEDATIVES IN GYNAECOLOGICAL PRACTICE.* » BY HUNTER ROBB, M. D., Associate in Gynaecology to the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore. Reprinted from the Maryland Medical Journal. May 14,1892. The general practitioner and the specialist are directly responsible in many instances for the continuous use of morphine as the means of relieving pain in the treatment of gynaecological cases. The general practitioner frequently meets with cases with ill-defined pelvic pains, cases of intestinal colic or cases with dis- tinct ovarian pains; and these seem, without question, to his mind, to call for morphine. This he administers repeatedly in the acute attacks, oftener by hy- podermic injections. The relief thus afforded is, of course, only temporary, and in each subsequent attack the patient will not rest satisfied unless the same treat- ment is carried out. Such practice is, I believe, becoming more and more widespread, and it is popular for the reason that it affords the greatest amount of immediate comfort to the patient and to the doctor. Such methods are not only resorted to bythe general practitioner, but by many gynaecologists, who in this way treat ill-defined pelvic troubles associated with pain. Unless, too, we can afford the patient immediate relief, and keep her comfortable and in a happy frame of mind, she frequently will forsake us for those who will prescribe the desired remedy. Under such circumstances the “morphia habit” is easily contracted, not only in cases where an idiosyncrasy to the drug already exists, but where no such ten- dency has been present. It is particularly in the cases of acute suffering ac- •Kead at the annual meeting of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty, held in Baltimore, April 26, 1892.