poison.

Symptoms.--The attack usually begins with a chill, preceded by a regular
increase of the temperature and pulse. The face looks flushed at first,
but it soon becomes pale and the patient has an anxious look, as the
disease goes on. There is very little pain, if any. The discharge that
always follows labor is diminished or stops and has no odor, if there is
any discharge.

The death rate is from five to twenty-five per cent.

Treatment.--Never scrape out (curette) the womb for this disease. The womb
should be washed out with a hot salt solution, one teaspoonful of salt to
one pint of water, and then packed with ten per cent iodoform gauze. This
solution should also be injected hot into the rectum and frequently. The
bowels should move freely, and if necessary injections may be given for
that purpose.

The strength must be kept up by a liquid diet. Milk, brandy and
strychnine, if necessary; 1/100 of a grain of strychnine can be given
every four hours. Milk should be given every half hour, about two ounces
at one time: or more if it agrees well.

The gauze should be removed gradually, beginning on the third day and
ending on the ninth day.

In this disease the interior of the womb is smooth and contains no broken
down or foreign tissue. In the next disease, Putrid Endometritis, it is
far different, for this is caused by the presence of dead material, such
as parts of the after-birth, left in after labor, or sloughing tumors.
This material becomes putrid (rotten), and thus causes the disease called
"Putrid Endometritis."

[500 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

PUTRID ENDOMETRITIS.--An inflammation of the inner lining of the womb
caused by putrid (rotten), decaying material.

Symptoms.--A chill is sometimes present at the beginning. The fever is
high, pulse bounds and feels hard and strong, the face is flushed but
there is little or no pain. The discharge from the womb, unless it is
blocked by a clot, is foul smelling. The flow after childbirth is scanty,
sometimes suppressed. The womb and ovaries are not very tender.

Treatment.--The first thing to do, of course, is to get the dead material,
such as parts of an after-birth, clots, shreds, etc., out of the womb, and
then scrape the rough surfaces. This must be done carefully and with
perfectly clean tools and liquids of every kind. Then wash the womb
thoroughly with the hot salt solution. One teaspoonful of salt to one pint
of boiled water. After this pack the womb wi