Remarks on the superinduction of anæsthesia in natural and morbid parturition : with cases illustrative of the effects of chloroform in midwifery; and answers to alleged religious objections against the practice / by J.Y. Simpson, M.D.

  • Simpson, James Young, 1811-1870.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the superinduction of anæsthesia in natural and morbid parturition : with cases illustrative of the effects of chloroform in midwifery; and answers to alleged religious objections against the practice / by J.Y. Simpson, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    against every new practice intended to increase the well-being and happiness of mankind, certainly are greatly more calculated to inflict damage than benefit upon the interests of true religion. Probably I may here be excused adding, that my friend Professor Miller informs me, that when reluc- tantly consenting to write the elaborate article on Etherization, which he afterwards penned for the North British Review (No. for May 1847), he stated to the late Dr Chalmers, who solicited him to undertake the task, that if he wrote the medical Dr Chalmers should himself write the theological part. Dr Chal- mers at once professed that he did not see any theo- logical part pertaining to it. Mr Miller then explained to him, that some had been urging objections against the use of ether in midwifery, on the ground of its so far improperly enabling woman to avoid one part of the primeval curse. At last when Mr Miller was en- abled to convince him that he was in earnest in saying that such ground hadbeen taken, Dr Chalmers thought quietly for a minute or two, and then added, that if some small theologians really took such an improper tences, I believe, were not uncommon almost within the memory of some aged members of the present generation. Sir Walter Scott, in his Old Mortality, introduces honest Mause Headrigg as charging the Lady Margaret Bellenden and the authorities at Til- lietudlem with abetting this reprehensible practice. And since | your leddyship is pleased to speak o' parting wi' us, I am free to i tell you a piece o' my mind in another article. Your leddyship I and the steward hae been pleased to propose that my son Cuddie • euld work in the barn wi' a new-fangled machine for dighting the • corn frae the chaff, thus impiously thwarting the will of Divine Providence, by raising wind for your leddyship's ain particular use • by human art, instead of soliciting it by prayer, or waiting patientl| for whatever dispensation of wind Providence was pleased to send! upon the sheeBng hill. (Chap, vii.)