An attempt to prove, on rational principles, that the term of human pregnancy may be considerably extended beyond nine calendar months : comprising the substance of evidence given in the Gardner peerage cause, before the House of Lords, July 4, 1825 / by John Power.

  • Power, John.
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An attempt to prove, on rational principles, that the term of human pregnancy may be considerably extended beyond nine calendar months : comprising the substance of evidence given in the Gardner peerage cause, before the House of Lords, July 4, 1825 / by John Power. 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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    CHAP. IV. THE POSSIBILITY OF LABOUR BEING DEFERRED BEYOND THE ORDINARY TIME, ADVOCATED ON THE DOCTRINE OF ORIFICIAL IRRITATION. Section I. General Observations. Admitting that labour is excited at the natural period by the contents of the womb irritating its mouth, and that such excitement is influenced by the pressure arising from the insensible contraction, it must follow that whatever will prevent the former, or interfere with the due application of the latter, will necessarily occasion a deficiency in the action of the womb. It will now be shewn that such causes will not only delay labour after it has actually commenced, but also defer its commence- ment, so as to prolong the time of utero-gesta- tion considerably beyond the ordinary period of nine calendar months. Section II. Labour delayed beyond the natural time, by a deficiency of insensible contraction. The force with which the contents of the womb impress its orifice, must necessarily differ according to the degree of insensible contraction; if the latter be strongly exerted,