File:Gynecology - (1918) (14586694789).jpg

Identifier: gynecologygrav (find matches)
Title: Gynecology :
Year: 1918 (1910s)
Authors: Graves, William Phillips, 1870-1933
Subjects: Gynecology Genital Diseases, Female Women Gynecology
Publisher: Philadelphia : Saunders
Contributing Library: Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine
Digitizing Sponsor: Open Knowledge Commons and Harvard Medical School

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menstruation and that it diminishes from the time ofthe beginning of the flow of blood. Von Ott constructed a curve which representsgraphically the monthly wave of the life processes of normal woman (Fig. 22).The discussion as to the physiologic cause of this menstrual wave of depres-sion, whether it is the result of an ovarian internal secretion, whether it is froma rhythmic change in the central nervous system, or what not, is not at presentconclusively established. The curve of Ott shows plainly that there is in theorganism of the healthiest woman a monthly period of depression in her vitalprocesses which finds definite expression in all her activities. This fact is of thevery greatest importance in our understanding of a woman, either as an indi-vidual or as a patient. As Havelock Ellis has pointed out, the chart of von Ottwould probably be paralleled, if it were possible to make accurate observations,in all the senses, emotions, and intellectual activities of women. Menstruation
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Fig. 22.—Curve of von Ott. In the preceding sections on the relationship of gynecology to the generalorganism we have seen that during menstruation the most varied disturbancestake place in nearly every part of the body—i. e., in the organs of sense, in thedigestive tract, in the skin, in the circulatory apparatus, etc. In the psychicand nervous organization of perfectly healthy women the menstrual curve isvery plainly manifested. There is at that time a greater sensitiveness and im-pressionability. The individual is far more irritable and subject to outburstsof ill-temper and to unreasonable caprices. There is markedly less self-controland an invariable tendency to depression. The nervous reflexes are impairedand women are less skilful and dextrous during the menstrual period. What we have said so far relates to women in perfect health. Under patho- 122 GYNECOLOGY logic conditions the same upward and downward curve occurs, but the changesmay be much more marked. In considering th

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