A cyclopaedia of obstetrics, theoretical, practical, historical, biographical, and critical, including the diseases of women and children / [Charles Clay].

  • Clay, Charles, 1801-1893.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A cyclopaedia of obstetrics, theoretical, practical, historical, biographical, and critical, including the diseases of women and children / [Charles Clay]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/16 (page 48)
    Chloroform.—Effects on the Child.—In the various journals repeated hints are given as to the probable effects (injurious we suppose they mean) on the child, without adducing any proofs of such being the fact. There does not appear to be the slightest reason for such a supposition, not even where it has been used for hours together, nor do we believe such to be the case. A great outcry was raised against the ergot on the same ground, the parties how¬ ever forgetting that pelvic and uterine pressure, long-continued, might satis¬ factorily account for most, if not all, the cases advanced. A Mr. Malan, in the Lancet, April 29, pursues this ignis fatuus still further; in respeet to chloroform he says “ how can we as yet know or ascertain the probable con¬ sequences of its use on the brain of the child ? How can we calculate the ulti¬ mate consequences of its action in reference to the development of the mental faculties ? [We are not inclined to battle with difficulties that do not exist: it is enough to contend with those we know, and of greater utility than to create imaginary ones.—Ed.] Extea-uterine Fcetation.—A paper on this subject was read before the Med. Chirurg. Society, London, by 1). Halrymple; which, from the appear¬ ances, jpost-mortem, the author supposed to have escaped from the uterine cavity about the period of quickening. Dr. Lee, however, opposed this opinion, as at the time there were no decided symptoms of rupture of the uterus ; he considered it an ordinary case of ventral conception, [Easy to assert, but difficult to prove. We suppose the Doctor strictly meant ventral gestation, as conception must always be in one place, the where and how of wffiichis not- even yet determined.—Ed.] Compression of Aorta in Post Parttjm Hemorrhage.—M. Escalier, in a severe case, succeeded by compression of the aorta by his hand, above the umbilicus, and considers this mode useful, not only in arresting the flow of blood towards the uterus, but also by sending it back towards the brain, pre¬ vent those convulsions wrhich so frequently occur after, or during severe hae¬ morrhage, and often prove fatal.—L Union Medicate. In the Prov. Med. and Surg. Journ. is a translation of an article by M. Seutin, on Compression of the Aorta for Uterine Haemorrhage, in which he maintains that it is not only a temporary relief but a permanent cure, and should not be looked upon as a dernier resort, but a3 a valuable resource under all circumstances, and ought to arrest the attention of the profession, although such men as Siebold, Velpeau, Saxtorpli, &c., think but little of its advantages. Dystocia.—In the Revue. Medico. Chirurg. is recorded a case of twins. The first child came footling, aud from the difficulty of disengaging the head, it was found that the head of the second child also wTas engaged with that of the first in the pelvis. The latter child was dead. Spontaneous Evolution.—Mr. Edwards, in the Lancet, records a case of this nature, where he failed in attempting to turn, and was about to use the perforator when, he says, the arm ivas withdrawn after the expulsion of some faeces, and the breach descended. [Spontaneous evolution is very much mis¬ understood by practitioners in general, as to the mode in which it is effected, the duty of the accoucheur, and the classification of the cases.—Ed.] Supeefcetation.—E. Horlbeck, M.D., in the Charlestown Med. Journ., U. S., relates a case of the expulsion of two foetuses at one birth ; the one a full*