A practical treatise on the diseases of women / by T. Gaillard Thomas.

  • Thomas, T. Gaillard (Theodore Gaillard), 1832-1903.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A practical treatise on the diseases of women / by T. Gaillard Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    or at any period of pregnancy, the fibres thus developed undergo a fatty degeneration and absorption, which has received the name of involution. This process occurs rapidly after abortion, but after labor at term it requires six weeks for its full accom- plishment. In order that it may proceed with normal rapidity and certainty, perfect rest is essential; and the woman who rises too soon, and resumes her usual occupations while the lochial discharge is still existing, risks the results of interference with it. Besides this, the uterus is much heavier than usual, and the additional danger of the induction of displacement is incurred by too early movement.* Lastly, the mucous membrane lining the cavity of the uterus is for some time after parturition in an ab- normal state, and is peculiarly liable to disease from exposure to cold and moisture. A very valid objection may be made to this view, that in the lower walks of life women rise after labor, and attend to their duties with impunity on about the ninth day, and yet enjoy a marked immunity from uterine affections. This is true; but let it be remembered that they are unaffected by the influences to which I have alluded, as calculated to enfeeble and deteriorate their generative systems. Prevention of Conception and Induction of Ahortion.—Means established for the accomplishment of the first of these ends are often productive of uterine disorder. This will not be wondered at when the harshness of some of them is borne in mind. The workings of nature in this, as in all other plrysiological processes, are too perfect, too accurately and delicately adjusted, not to be interfered with materially by the clumsy and inappropriate mea- sures adopted to frustrate her laws. With this allusion we leave this unattractive subject to deal with one still more disagreeable, but which, from its importance, cannot conscientiously be passed over in silence. Statistics showing the frequency of criminal abortion have never been, and never will be written, for the crime creeps stealthily beneath the scrutiny of society, and, for some unaccountable reason, without material interference from the judiciary. It is, I feel, a bold statement, that, while the law pursues with relentless vigor the man who murders his fellow, it allows immunity to him who murders the young child in its mother's womb; and vet it is well nigh correct. Let me point