First lines of the practice of midwifery: to which are added remarks on the forensic evidence requisite in cases of foeticide and infanticide / By Charles Severn.

  • Severn, Charles.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: First lines of the practice of midwifery: to which are added remarks on the forensic evidence requisite in cases of foeticide and infanticide / By Charles Severn. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    72/164 (page 56)
    ance, until the patient herself requests it, and is convinced of its necessity. The bed should be so covered, as to be defended from the discharges, and arranged so as to allow the sheets to be readily removed. A skin is best adapted for this purpose, with a sheet doubled several times placed on it, upon which the patient is to lie. The position usually adopted in this country is lying on the left side, near the edge of the bed. Having ascertained that labour has begun and the first stage gradually advancing, it is right to render the mind of the patient tranquil, by assu- rances of the certainty of its favourable termination: the less the accoucheur interferes, the better, if the presentation be natural, and while examining he ought carefully to avoid prematurely rupturing the membranes, which should gene- rally be left entirely to nature. To the patient small quan- tities of gruel may be given occasionally, or any mild,, unsti- mulating beverage she may prefer. The accoucheur should not remain in the room, but attend from time to time, and observe the progress of the labour. When the os uteri is fully dilated, it will be easy, by careful examination, to distinguish not only the presenta- tion, but also the situation of the head; the finger should be gently and slowly passed, between the symphisis pubis, and the head of the fcetus, where an ear can be readily felt; if this is done rudely, and hastily, the ear may be doubled on itself, and the examination will be rendered useless and unsatisfactory. That part of the ear which is close to the head, will denote the situation of the face, while the flap of the ear will as certainly indicate that of the occiput. The fontanelles should also be examined, and by tracing them, and the course of the sutures, we may verify our observations on the ear. The smaller fontanelle is known by its triangular shape, and by three sutures meeting there, and will lead us to the situation of the