[On the separation of the symphysis of the pubes in labour].

  • Denman, Thomas, 1733-1815.
Date:
1780
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [On the separation of the symphysis of the pubes in labour]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    THOS E women who have loft a great quantity of blood at the time of their delivery, are apt to be- come dropfical from mere weaknefs; but a dropfy may alfo be produced at that time, by a caufe of which I believe no notice has hitherto been taken. In the * inflammation of the cavity of the ahdo- metiy which fcjmetimes fucceeds childbirth, the fecretion of a greater quantity of ferous fluid mixed with coagulablc lymph, is one of the moft frequent confe<juences. In the examination of thofe who have died With this inflammation, fuch has con- flantly been found in the cavity, in various quan- tities. If the patients furvive this inflammation, there is reafon to think that the fluid is abforbed isito the conftitution, and perhaps the prefent method of treating this difeafe may contribute very much to promote the abforption. But if the inflammation fhould be fubdued, and the abforbing fyftem fhould not be reftored to its wonted vigour, then the fluid fecreted and dcpofitcd in the cavity, at the time when the inflammatioa exifted, will remain, and there will be an increafc of it, as the fccxetion continues, while the power of abforption is not exerted. Thus a fpecics of ■dropfy is conftitutcd, which has its foundation in inflammation, enlarging in the firft place, the quan- tity of fluid fecreted, and then deftroying or im- pairing the power of abforption. Having met with four inftanccs of this difeafe, I think It ncceflary to rrention them, that by the at- tention of gentlemen engaged in pradlice it may be difcovcred, whether any peculiar method of treat- ment may be required for a dropfy arifmg from this caufe. • The dodtrine of the inflammation of cavities was firfl taught and explained by Mr. John Hunter, in his Ledurcs on the Principles of Surgery. This fpccies of dropfy is an ezempliiication of a part of his doctrine in the inflammation of the cavity of the aixtimetti In