A practical treatise on midwifery, containing the results of 16,654 births, occurring in the Dublin Lying-in Hospital, during a period of seven years commencing November 1826 / by Robert Collins.

  • Collins, Robert, 1801-1868.
Date:
1836
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A practical treatise on midwifery, containing the results of 16,654 births, occurring in the Dublin Lying-in Hospital, during a period of seven years commencing November 1826 / by Robert Collins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    ceilings of each ward (these have since been changed for air:tubes six inches in diameter pass- ing to the roof) three holes of an inch diameter were made in an oblique direction through each window frame at top ; the upper part of the doors opening into the galleries were also perforated with numerous holes. By these means a free cir- culation of air was at all times secured through the wards, and effected in such a way as put it out of the power of the nurses to control it. The consequences of these alterations, as stated by Doctor Clarke, were favourable beyond the ex- pectation of the most sanguine. Of 8033 children born subsequently to the wards being ventilated as described, only 419 died ; that is about one in 19i, or from 5 to 6 in 100, instead of the enormous mortality before mentioned. Thus, by his valuable suggestions, 16,371 Hves have been saved; as had the mortality of infants continued one in 6 till this day, the number of children dying of the 131,227, (which is the total number born in the Hospital,) would be 21,871, instead of 5500, as the Hospital Registry now shews. This is an astounding fact, sufficient to arouse the attention of all those engaged in the manage- ment of large institutions, where numbers of young creatures are assembled together under the same roof, and calculated to enforce upon them the ne-