CHAPTER XI. ON HYSTERICAL SUFFOCATION
IN the middle of the flanks of women lies the womb, a female
viscus, closely resembling an animal; for it is moved of itself
hither and thither in the flanks, also upwards in a direct line
to below the cartilage of the thorax, and also obliquely to the
right or to the left, either to the liver or spleen; and it likewise
is subject to prolapsus downwards, and, in a word, it is
altogether erratic. It delights, also, in fragrant smells, and
advances towards them; and it has an aversion to fetid smells,
and flees from them; and, on the whole, the womb is like an
animal within an animal.
When, therefore, it is suddenly carried upwards, and
remains above for a considerable time, and violently compresses
the intestines, the woman experiences a choking, after the
form of epilepsy, but without convulsions. For the liver, diaphragm,
lungs and heart, are quickly squeezed within a narrow
space; and therefore loss of breathing and of speech seems
to be present. And, moreover, the carotids are compressed
from sympathy with the heart, and hence there is heaviness of
head, loss of sensibility, and deep sleep.
And in women there also arises another affection resembling
this form, with sense of choking and loss of speech, but not
proceeding from the womb; for it also happens to men, in the
manner of
catochus. But those from the uterus are remedied
by fetid smells, and the application of fragrant things to the
female parts; but in the others these things do no good; and
the limbs are moved about in the affection from the womb,
but in the other affection not at all. Moreover, voluntary and
involuntary tremblings . . . . . . . . . . . but from the application
of a pessary to induce abortion, powerful congelation
of the womb, the stoppage of a copious hemorrhage, and such
like.
If, therefore, upon the womb's being moved upwards, she
begin to suffer, there is sluggishness in the performance of her
offices, prostration of strength, atony, loss of the faculties of
her knees, vertigo, and the limbs sink under her; headache,
heaviness of the head, and the woman is pained in the veins
on each side of the nose.
But if they fall down they have heartburn . . . . . in the
hypochondriac regions; flanks empty, where is the seat of the
womb; pulse intermittent, irregular, and failing; strong sense
of choking; loss of speech and of sensibility; respiration imperceptible
and indistinct; a very sudden and incredible death,
for they have nothing deadly in their appearance; in colour
like that of life, and for a considerable time after death they
are more ruddy than usual; eyes somewhat prominent, bright,
not entirely fixed, but yet not very much turned aside.
But if the uterus be removed back to its seat before the
affection come to a conclusion, they escape the suffocation.
When the belly rumbles there is moisture about the female
parts, respiration thicker and more distinct, a very speedy
rousing up from the affection, in like manner as death is very
sudden; for as it readily ascends to the higher regions, so it
readily recedes. For the uterus is buoyant, but the membranes,
its supporters, are humid, and the place is humid in
which the uterus lies; and, moreover, it flees from fetid
things, and seeks after sweet: wherefore it readily inclines to
this side and to that, like a log of wood, and floats upwards
and downwards. For this reason the affection occurs in
young women, but not in old. For in those in whom the
age, mode of life, and understanding is more mobile, the
uterus also is of a wandering nature; but in those more advanced
in life, the age, mode of living, understanding, and
the uterus are of a steady character. Wherefore this suffocation
from the womb accompanies females alone.
But the affections common to men happen also to the
uterus, such as inflammation and hemorrhage, and they have
the common symptoms; namely, fever, asphexy, coldness, loss
of speech. But in hemorrhage the death is even more sudden,
being like that of a slaughtered animal.