The genitalia of the female is the controlling centre of her whole economy. If the womb and its appendages are in a healthy state, the female figure preserves its artistic rotundity, her mind its sprightliness, and her humanity its benevolence and sympathy. When diseased, she becomes fretful, peevish, and inconsolable. The province of the physician, therefore, becomes one of great importance, and it is his duty that he should not only thoroughly understand the pathology of uterine diseases, but in his humanity he should combine a fine feeling of compassion, with correct ideas of the treatment required. He should prove worthy of the trust confided to him, in sympathy, considerateness, and skill.

No greater trust can fall upon him; he is not only accountable for the physical welfare of the patient, but bears a further responsibility. If his treatment is not judicious and rational, his patient becomes a victim to a gloomy depression of spirits, and to an irrespressible feeling of languor and misery, that sternly bid away all brightness of life. He will but poorly do his duty if he follows but the beaten track of a routine practice, and, after successive trials, consigns his suffering patient, by pronouncing her incurable, to a condition but little better than the grave. Uterine diseases are not incurable, but when properly treated, they yield kindly to medication, as the disposition of all womb affections is to get well, needing but proper medical assistance to stimulate and encourage the forces of recuperation to overcome the assaults of disease (see page 390)