Elements of operative midwifery ; comprising a description of certain new and improved powers for assisting difficult and dangerous labours; illustrated by plates: with cautionary strictures on the improper use of instruments / By David D. Davis.

  • Davis, David D., 1777-1841.
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of operative midwifery ; comprising a description of certain new and improved powers for assisting difficult and dangerous labours; illustrated by plates: with cautionary strictures on the improper use of instruments / By David D. Davis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    was at any time undertaken on the free and easy speculation that no difficulties were likely to occur ? And again supposing the real circumstances of these pretensions were to become known, how would the argument, founded on the alleged infrequency of dan- gerous births, be received by a distracted husband, suddenly bereft of an almost idolized wife, his best or perchance his only earthly treasure, by the bungling incompetence of her medical at- tendant ? As a matter of moral right, a man surely can have no more right, as to the principle of the thing, to incur the chance, or even a remote possibility which he could avoid, of becoming the cause of a premature loss of life to one individual, than he can have of becoming the instrument of a similar fate to one hundred. It is not intended, by these remarks, to insist upon an equal possession of obstetric qualifications by all practitioners of mid- wifery. The difference of talents, stations, and original oppor- tunities, with that of a thousand influences which contribute to- wards the formation of individual character, must render the attain- ment of universal and equal excellence for ever impracticable. On the contrary, it is my only, but earnest wish to obtain for obstetric studies that estimation in the profession to which I think they are justly entitled; so as to ensure as much competency for the dis- charge of the practical duties of midwifery, as for that of the other objects of a general practitioner’s pretensions. I have taken the liberty of stating the broad and fundamental principle of what I conceive to be a professional duty of a very ge- neral obligation. But there are few rules without exceptions ; and it happens, in the present case, that there are circumstances in the relative situations of a certain part of the profession, which must be considered as giving them a perfect title to exemption from the