A compendium of the theory and practice of midwifery : containing practical instructions for the management of women during pregnancy, in labour, and in child-bed; calculated to correct the errors, and to improve the practice, of midwives; as well as to serve as an introduction to the study of this art, for students and young practitioners / By Samuel Bard.

  • Bard, Samuel, 1742-1821.
Date:
1808
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A compendium of the theory and practice of midwifery : containing practical instructions for the management of women during pregnancy, in labour, and in child-bed; calculated to correct the errors, and to improve the practice, of midwives; as well as to serve as an introduction to the study of this art, for students and young practitioners / By Samuel Bard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    succeeding pregnancy. General weakness predispo- ses to this disease, may be the principal source, and always increases it, from whatever other cause it is derived. Great voluntary exertions, and preposterous efforts in the beginning of labour, before the internal orifice of the womb is sufficiently open, may subject any woman to this troublesome complaint; but are most apt to bring it on in such as are of weak and relaxed habits, or in such as have been subject to it before ; and therefore, although always wrong, should more carefully be avoided in such cases. In such women as are subject to this complaint, it is always increased during the first three or four months of pregnancy ; but as soon as the womb rises out of the pelvis, (that is, after the fourth month) it grows bet- ter, and generally disappears by the seventh or eighth month; but after that, may return again in a slight degree. Careful attention, during the succeeding labour, to keep the woman in a horizontal posture, to avoid all voluntary efforts, and unnecessary straining, and to support the internal orifice, by one or two fin- gers introduced into the vagina, during every pain, will prevent any increase of the complaint at that time ; and longer confinement than usual to a hori- zontal posture, after child-birth, will sometimes entire- ly remove it. Cleanliness, and w^ashing out the va- gina by means of a syringe, at first with milk and water, then with an astringent infusion of green tea, or of oak bark, (No. 20. b.) with the addition of a small quantity of vinegar or spirits, will contribute to the cure; at first, the injections should be tepid, but after eight or ten days, when the irritability of the