Report of the trial. The people versus Dr. Horatio N. Loomis, for libel. : Tried at the Erie County Oyer and Terminer, June 24, 1850. Justice Mullett, presiding. John Treanor, Leander J. Roberts, associate justices. Reported by Frederick T. Parsons, stenographer.

Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the trial. The people versus Dr. Horatio N. Loomis, for libel. : Tried at the Erie County Oyer and Terminer, June 24, 1850. Justice Mullett, presiding. John Treanor, Leander J. Roberts, associate justices. Reported by Frederick T. Parsons, stenographer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    proper in that. But that it is, he thinks, unnecrg- sary to exhibit the patient to view ; that the si^hl of the child is of no use at all That the manner of supporting the perineum can as well be described and uii lerstood by plates, as by seeing it. That it is not necessary, in cutting the cord, that the patient should be exposed. It has been his prac¬ tice to take his stud^-nts with him in some poor families and teach them to make the vaginal examinations, and considered this perfectly proper. That he had been instructed that frequent vaginal examinations are to be a stained from as injurious to the woman. That women are never stripped any farther than is absolutely necessary in the operation itself. And he considers that all feelings of delicacy ought to give way to benefit the patient. He is convinced that the accoucheur relies more upon the sense of touch than of sight. It is usually about four weeks before a woman is able to discharge her nurse. And that if a woman gets up in a week it shows that she has received good treatment, in his opinion. The stethoscope is a very important instrument in ascertaining the life of the child. I think it necessary that every student should be taught in regard to its uses. That no language can convey the representation of ihe sound itself—that it can only be learned by actual experiment. Cannot state exactly the time the speculum came into use, but thinks within fifteen years. Th nks that there would be no delicacy in regard to its use if it were necessary. But he does not consider that an ocular demonstra¬ tion is proper in Midwifery. Dr. Chas. VViNNE, sworn, says—He has been in practice, as Physician and Surgeon, seventeen years—graduated nt the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. It is his opinion tliat ocular den)onstratinn in Midwifery is unneces¬ sary. His attention has not been cal ed particu¬ larly to what authors say of it. That the practice of the physician, during the progress of labor, is in the first place to satisfy himself as to the con¬ dition of the pati'--nt; tliis is done by an examina¬ tion of the vagina. He then gives such instruc¬ tions to his patient as will encourage her, and at the same time directing her to make no more exertion than is nect ssary, and to observe her geti- eral symptoms. He should also avoid all unne¬ cessary exposure of her person. Midwifery has been taught fir centuries without the use of the eye, and he has never heard of any ocular demon¬ stration in this or any other country until intro¬ duced here. Cross Examined — Thinks that no ocular de- monstiation is necessary in a case of ordinary labor—might conceive a case in which it might be necessary. In cases of monstrosities and mal¬ formations it might be useful. Auscultntion by the stethescope cannot i>e taught, except upon the living subject—examination of the vagina cannot well be taught, excep' upon a living subject; and that so tar as the touch is concerned, there is nothing improper in it—thinks, as a general thing, the student should have all the information in regard to it which the Professor can give him, and that he should understand every stage of the labor as it progresses, which can be obtained from the plates provided for that purpose—supposes these plates are taken from the living sul'ject. • nd he considers them perfectly proper. He thinks it is between fifieen and twentv years since clinical instructions were introduced, and they are now given in all the colleges where there are no hos¬ pitals. That the first male accoucheur in this country was a practitioner in Boston, in 1595. The practice is now almost entirely confined to male accoucheurs. Knows nothing in regard to the practice of Midwifery in the hospitals in France or Geirnan,—does not know vvhether foreign practitioners are superior to the American. The French and German schools are super or ^o the American on account of their superior facilities in illustrating to their classes by ocular demon¬ strations. He considers himsolf better qualified lo practice Midwifery than when he first gradu¬ ated, on account of having had greater practical expierience—he does not consider an ocular de¬ monstration necessary ; the practitioner is guided rather by the sense of the touch than of sight. All ihat is necessary can be learned from plates ; still he supposes that a better idea might be ob¬ tained of the external organs by sight than by touch. Medical authors enjoin .‘dl ihe delicacy possible in the treatment of a woman in labor. This of course speaks only of private practice ; it has no reference to a woman who is willing to be exposed before a class—in such a case she can, of course, do as she please--. Dr. A. S. Sprague, sworn, says—He has prac¬ tised medicine twenty-five year^—has had the usual number of cases in Midwifery, he supposes, v^hich generally falls to the lot of a regular prac¬ titioner. He graduaied as M D. at Dartmouth College. In teaching the Science of Midwifery he does not consider it necessary or proper to ex¬ pose the patient. Cross Examined—Considers it necessary for a student to be in possession of plates exhibiting all the internal parts of a woman, and that it is also highly necessary that he shnuld have suhjec s for dissection, both male and feniale. Thinks that Auscultation is also necessary to be t-aiight, and t'lat it can be taught in no other way than upon a living subject; al.so, that vaginal examinations can be taught in no other way than on a living subject. He considers plates prefi-rable to all other means of instruction, becau.se with them the student can have all the parts before him at once, both of the internal and external organs ; vvhile he cannot have the li\ing subject befoie him, ex¬ cept at long intervals. That the plates arc almost perfect, exhibiting all the stages of labor during parturition. He has not att-nded c inical lectures in New York, but has in other places. Has been introduced to and knows Dr. Gilman of N. York. Was present and assisted at an operation on a young girl for stone in the bladder. 'I'liere were several persons present, perhaps fifteen—he only