riiK NEW SPIRAL SPRING PESSARY, WITH ITS APPLICATION AS A REMEDIAL AGENT, FOR Prolapsus, or Falling of the Womb, AND OTHER DISPLACEMENTS OF THE FEMALE PELVIC ORGANS.. BY \s MRS. BRIGHAM, No. 13aO Chestnut Street, i Front Boom, Second Floor,) FU1LADKLP M K 11 R I II E W A SON, P II No. 243 Arch Street. nJ/)' , 1F67. An Important Address to Ladies, Header, in presenting you with this circular, it is my wish to speak to you frankly and truthfully. One object in publishing this, is that of making known the applicability of one of the most valuable inven- tions that has ever been applied for the relief of woman. The sufferings to which I was for years subjected, for want of a proper appliance in the medical profession, rendered it necessary for me to exert myself in contriving something for my relief. Accordingly, after having been treated for years by many of the ablest physicians of New York City and other places, and all to no purpose, in the midst of despair I happened upon a plan which gave me some promise of help. My affection was that of Prolapsus, or falling of the womb, that direful dis- order which consigns so many females to lives of loathsomeness and gradual decay. After years of suffering and after having submitted to the tortures of the various appliances of my physicians, and learning from actual experience, that impressive school of knowledge, the supposed philosophy of action of all the various pessaries or womb supporters, 1 resolved, after many anxious hours of thought in reference to my condition and cure, to study, and observe for 2 myself in regard to the different appliances; and even experiment in my case, until I either became satisfied that my efforts were vain, or, that they would become of avail. Finally, the Spiral Spring Pessary was the reward of my anxious toils and study. Nothing but the powerful conviction 1 received, from trial, of the utter inapplicability and worth- lessness of all the supporters or pessaries then known to the profession, and the duty 1 felt in regard to doing for myself, gave me the courage and strength to persevere for a long time in the pursuit of this plan for relief. Fortunately my efforts were crowned with success, and such a one as is no where paralleled in the history of such inventions. All human kind, and especially woman, will learn to bless this dis- covery, and look upon it as an occurrence for their special good. The Spiial Spring Pessary, in the form which I have completed, was first suggested to my mind in a crude and scarcely practical design, but after a length of time had been spent in experi- menting in my own case, I succeeded with the article, the engraving of which I herewith present for your inspection. (See back of Cover.) Long before 1 had arrived at such completeness in the adaptability of this article, it had given relief in my own case, and in a manner so apparently magi- cal, that I resolved, for the good of my sex who 3 were afflicted like myself, to further complete it, and also present it to my suffering friends. I have done so, and more; my efforts have, on every hand, so far. met with happy terminations, for besides my own perfect cure I have been the means, through this in- vention, of curing many who were suffering from the same affliction. I now commend it to the consider- ation of the public, and feel confident, that if the many females who suffer from prolapsus or falling of the uterus will give it a trial, they will feel thankful, as I do, for such a boon to the female sex. Special Notice. The Spiral Spring Pessary lias now been well tested, anil has given instant and permanent relief in a large number of cases. A lady residing on Eighteenth street, New York f'ity, suffered for ten years from frequent attacks of congestion of the uterus, followed by displacement and neuraliga of the parts, which often confined her to her bed for months at a time. By the advice of her physician she tried many of the different pessa- ries then in use, but could wear none of them with any degree of comfort or benefit. I presented her with one of my pessaries, adjusted it for her. and she 4 wore it during the day without the slightest incon- venience ; I removed it for her at night, (which is always necessary,) and the next morning replaced it, and although she had not been able to go from her room for three months, she on that day walked a distance in the street, and continued to improve, and is now perfectly well. She has many times expressed her gratitude, and says she “would not part with it, as it was the comfort of her lifeany lady who has been a sufferer from the same cause can appreciate fully the expression of her feelings. Another lady in the same city had suffered years with chronic prolapsus ; being obliged to attend to duties which kept heron her feet most of the day, she was recommended to wear a pessary continually. She tried several different kinds, but they all increased the difficulty—some, from their immense size, distend- ing the vagina, others, from their respective faults, proving equally obnoxious. I gave her one of the Spring Pessaries. She at first doubted the possi- bility of being benefitted by so small an instrument. She, however,wore the pessary, commencing with the largest size. She soon began to improve in health ; the vagina contracting to its natural size, she was enabled to wear a smaller instrument, and soon after the necessity for wearing the pessary at all Avas removed. She is now entirely well, and owes 5 her restoration to this pessary. Another lady who had this difficulty, also ulceration, caused by improper pessaries, was cured by my Spring Pessary in a short time. In this cage cotton wool was medicated and placed into the cup of the pessary in order to come in contact with the ulcerated parts. If ladies wishing to try this Pessary will call at niy rooms, I will insert it for them, being fully com- petent, from long experience, to do so. If they requite medical treatment in conjunction with the pessary, they can consult their own physician or the 'me in attendance at my room from 11 A. M. to 12 M. MRS. RRIGHAM, No. 1320 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Second floor, front room. Upon from y A. M. to 6 P. M. 6 Of the Use and Adaptation of the Spiral Spring Pessary. This Pessary consists simply of a silver spirally coiled wire of about inches in length, from the lower end of which passes astern of the wire about one inch long, to which is fastened a linen strap to keep the pessary iu place, one end of which passes anteriorly and the other posteriorly in a vertical manner to the waist, where they meet and fasten to another strap or girdle, which is buckled around the waist. By this means the instrument is retained in a secure and perfectly comfortable position. The upper end of this spring or coil of wire has attached to it a soft rubber cup, into which the lower end or mouth of the uterus is received, and in which it rests iu an easy and natural position. Through this cup the secretions will pass and be carried otf by means of the tube passing from the cup down into the wire coil. By allowing the secretions to thus pass away, corrosion and irritation of the parts are avoided. The arrangement is so plain and simple, awd yet so perfect, that it can be inserted by the patient herself with all ease, and by her can be re- moved and cleansed as frequently as desired without inconvenience or trouble. This is one other grand point gained, which of itself places it in superiority 7 over every other article of the kind in use. Another superior point of its usefulness is that the cup, which forms the upper end of the pessary, is such as will conveniently admit of cotton wool, or other soft substance being placed within it, which can lie saturated with medicated fluids or ointments, for the direct medication afthc womb. This is a considera- tion of no small import, as it frequently becomes necessary for this to he done, particularly in ulcera- tion of the parts. By medication in this way, it saves in many cases special operations for this pur- pose. The disadvantages of most all the Pessaries in use are 1st. They are indelicate 2d. If too small they will he forced out and do no good. 3d. They cause inflammation and induration or hardness of the uterus, if large, also “whites' ulceration and cancer. 4th. They dilate or enlarge the passage and often become incrustcd and difficult to remove without breaking. utli. From long wearing they have been known to make their way through the walls of the vagina into the rectum. None of these disadvantages attend the use of the S/>ir