A 1946 Study on Endometriosis

| Bloomin' Uterus
A header from an old 1946 scientific study that reads "The New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 235, November 7, 1946; Number 19"

While doing a bit of research for a recent blog entry, I ran across a study from 1946 describing Endometriosis.  I found it fascinating!

Written by Drs. Fallon, Brosnan, and Moran in Massachusetts, The New England Journal of Medicine published the study on November 7, 1946, and I wanted to point out some quotes that I found of particular interest:

a gauge with text that reads "The study opens with: Endometriosis is a frequent, not a rare, disease."
An archery target with text that reads "Unfortunately, the diagnosis is often missed than made."
A private property sign with text that reads "there is a widespread assumption that the condition is the private property of the gynecologist. This is unfortunate because Endometriosis, like pregnancy, is encountered by all physicians"
Blueberries with text that reads "the authors referred to lesions as blueberry spots."
An octopus with text that reads "Octopuslike tentacles of endometrial tissue invade...pulling neighboring tissues toward itself."
Text that reads "One hesitates to call the pain dysmenorrhea, which suggests cramps. This pain may be cramp but it may also be an ache in the lower left quadrant, an acute stab near the appendix,a soreness in the rectum or a discomfort in the back. It may be sharply localized, or it may radiate to the sacrum or thigh."
a pelvic bone and text that reads "Jarring of the pelvis, from walking on a hard sidewalk, riding on a rough road, coitus, defecation or even sitting down suddenly may increase the pain of endometriosis."
A radiation sign with text that reads "In an attempt to treat advanced Endometriosis without castration, a study was prompted on treating with low doses of radium to temporarily deactivate the ovaries!"
A bunch of babies with text that reads "Marriage at the age of seventeen and a child every three years would probably abolish endometriosis. It then goes on to say Marriage at twenty and no five years without a baby would perhaps be more sensible."
A chicken with text that reads "But to the eye endometriosis is as unmistakable as chicken pox..."
An alarm clock with text that reads "True conservatism, we believe, consists in spending an hour picking nodules out of a pelvis, even though castration could be done in ten minutes. We...have taken pains and accepted risks to excise the disease whenever excision was possible."

I encourage you to read the entire study yourself.  Groan if you will at reference to retrograde menstruation, treatment with castration, becoming a baby-factory, regression of the disease once the ovaries are removed, and…a cure. I just severely enjoyed the verbiage and disease descriptions from  70 years ago and wanted to share it with you.

Have a wonderful day!

~Lisa

11 thoughts on “A 1946 Study on Endometriosis”

  2. thisis AMAZING!!! thank you for sharing!

    On Thu, Jun 15, 2017 at 12:43 PM, Bloomin’ Uterus wrote:

    > Bloomin’ Uterus posted: ” While doing a bit of research for a recent blog > entry, I ran across a study from 1946 describing Endometriosis. I found it > fascinating! Written by Drs. Fallon, Brosnan, and Moran in Massachusetts, > The New England Journal of Medicine published the stud” >

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Pingback: A 1946 Study on Endometriosis — Bloomin’ Uterus – Stories from my imagination and other ramblings

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