A lecture introductory to the theory and practice of midwifery : including the history of that science; with a view of its several branches, and the proper means of attaining a perfect knowledge of the whole. Also animadversions on the qualification and deportment of an accoucheur: publicly delivered at his theatre, in Craven-Street, London / by John Leake ...

Date:
M,DCC,LXXXII. [1782]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A lecture introductory to the theory and practice of midwifery : including the history of that science; with a view of its several branches, and the proper means of attaining a perfect knowledge of the whole. Also animadversions on the qualification and deportment of an accoucheur: publicly delivered at his theatre, in Craven-Street, London / by John Leake ... Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    24/66 (page 18)
    / ( 18 ) The late celebrated Dr. JVhytt will not allow, that refpi- ration arifes from caufes merely mechanical, and therefore recurs to a fentient principle, which puts certain mufcles in motion at particular periods; hence the infant is born with a natural propenfity or appetite for breathing, fimilar to want of meat or drink in the adult. He fuppofes, that in confequence of its ftruggles in the birth, a larger quantity of blood will be fent to the lungs, which Simulates them into a refpiratory motion; but this, like every other reafon hitherto advanced, is inefficient to folve the queflion at firft propofed; fince it may eafily be proved, that the caufe of breathing, whatever it may be, is not originally impreffed on the lungs themfelves, but on the organs of refpiration. The air by its gravity cannot prefs into a pair of bellows, till their Tides are pulled afunder, neither can the lungs of a new-born infant be inflated and begin to play, till they are freed from all preflure by the adtion of the intercoflal mufcles and diaphragm, which raifes the fternum and enlarges the cavity of the breaft. DixH. wIi 1 '.. . ) IO i To proceed ; when we come to examine parts peculiar to the foetus, there the immediate finger and fiat of .the Creator ftill difcovers itfelf in a more wonderful and confpicuous man- ner ; for, the canalis arteriofus and foramen ovale are mani- feftly defigned as diverticula to carry off blood from the heart, and hinder it from rufhing upon the impervious veflels of the lungs,