She
tried to ward off disease, and repair the loss of force, by consulting
various doctors, taking drugs, and resorting to all sorts of
expedients; but the hemorrhages continued, and were repeated at
irregular and abnormally frequent intervals. A careful local
examination disclosed no local disturbance. There was neither
ulceration, hypertrophy, or congestion of the os or cervix uteri; no
displacement of any moment, of ovarian tenderness. In spite of all her
difficulties, however, she worked on courageously and steadily in a
man's way and with a woman's will. After a long and discouraging
experience of doctors, work, and weaknesses, when rather over thirty
years old, she came to Boston to consult the writer, who learned at
that time the details just recited. She was then pale and weak. A
murmur in the veins, which a French savant, by way of dedication to
the Devil, christened _bruit de diable_, a baptismal name that science
has retained, was audible over her jugulars, and a similar murmur over
her heart. Palpitation and labored respiration accompanied and impeded
effort. She complained most of her head, which felt "queer," would not
go to sleep as formerly, and often gave her turns, in which there was
a mingling of dizziness, semi-consciousness, and fear.
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