President's address (Robert Barnes, M. D.) : delivered at the annual general meeting of the Obstetrical Society of London, January 2nd, 1867 / [by Robert Barnes].

  • Barnes, Robert, 1817-1907.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: President's address (Robert Barnes, M. D.) : delivered at the annual general meeting of the Obstetrical Society of London, January 2nd, 1867 / [by Robert Barnes]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    Dr. Farr's object in this investigation—and it is one directly contemplated in the foundation of our Society—is to diminish the actual heavy mortality amongst infants. A ■well-directed effort to accomplish this end must, he observes, he based upon extensive and accurate information as to the main causes of the excessive mortality, and as to the various modes of managing infants at the earliest periods of life. In this latter respect, the most singular diversities exist, not alone in different countries, hut even in different parts of our own country. Possibly some of these diversities may be accounted for, and may he reasonably justified, by diver- sities of race, of climate, and of other special conditions. Still there must he, independent of all these diversities, some universal laws of physiology which apply to all races and to all places, and which are often disregarded out of heedless submission to inherited customs. To show how far these departures from natural laws are the causes of infant mortality, and to establish sounder methods of managing new-born infants, is the task proposed. It is an honorable and useful task, in the prosecution of which our resources and organisation may he most effectually engaged. I think it will he felt by us all that it is no insignificant acknowledgment of the position we have attained amongst the institutions of the country, that our aid should be sought in a work of such great national and human interest. The Council have resolved to undertake this investigation; and communications will no doubt he sent to every Fellow, inviting the co-operation of all. One of those points which are peculiarly fitted for inves- tigation by the machinery of a large Society, is the influence of epidemics upon parturition. Since our foundation, t\vo opportunities have occurred of making observations in illus- tration of this question upon a large scale. In 1863, we had an epidemic of smallpox; and, during the year that has just run its course, we have had an epidemic of cholera. Now there are several interesting questions arising out of the reciprocal influence of pregnancy and epidemic diseases, which are as yet far from being solved. What is the in-