Lecture introductory to the course on obstetrics, and diseases of women and children : in the University of Pennsylvania, for the session of 1836-7 / by Hugh L. Hodge.

  • Hodge, Hugh L. (Hugh Lenox), 1796-1873.
Date:
1836
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Lecture introductory to the course on obstetrics, and diseases of women and children : in the University of Pennsylvania, for the session of 1836-7 / by Hugh L. Hodge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    only to sexual peculiarities, so termed, but to the whole being, anatomical and physiological, physical and mental. Without professing to be minute, let us glance at some of these charac- teristic traits, that we may be better prepared for our future studies in this department of medical science. It has been often said, that all the peculiarities of females depend on the uterine system:—Mulier propter uterum con- dita est. Without defending the precise accuracy of this assertion, there is, doubtless, an intimate connection between the development and healthy state of the uterus and those of all the organs of the economy. Hence, during infancy and childhood, when the uterus and its appendages are exceedingly small and inconsiderable, the differences between the sexes are trifling, as regard body and mind. There is the same general conformation of the limbs and of the body—the same muscular outline apparent; the motions of either sex are usually awk- ward—and girl associates with boy, with all the freedom and innocency of a primeval state of existence. At the period of adolescence or puberty, a most wonderful transformation is manifested in both sexes, especially in the female, and their characteristic traits are rapidly developed, and decidedly and permanently established. Many of these changes we shall hereafter specify minutely. In general, it may now be observed, that all portions of the animal fabric are modified by the influence of sex. Contrasted with the male skeleton, that of the female is distinguished by the smallness and delicacy of the bones, by the diminutive size of the head and chest, and by the greater proportional de- velopment of the pelvis, by the length of the body and short- ness of the limbs. Distinctive traits may be recognised through almost all the tissues, depending chiefly on greater delicacy of structure, and on diminished size. The skin is more white and delicate; the hair, long, fine, and flexible; the cellular and adipose tissues are far more abundant, filling up the interstices of the muscles, and the inequalities of the body and limbs; and