Resume of a report on position, pneumatic pressure and mechanical appliance in uterine displacements : read before the Georgia Medical Association at Savannah, April 23d, 1875 / by Henry Fraser Campbell.

  • Campbell, Henry Fraser, 1824-1891.
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Resume of a report on position, pneumatic pressure and mechanical appliance in uterine displacements : read before the Georgia Medical Association at Savannah, April 23d, 1875 / by Henry Fraser Campbell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    the reversal of gravity in a way that would promote uterine re- placement, by equilibrium of pressure. The position having been taken as indicated by the above directions and by the proper outlines, all that is necessary for self-replacement is the introduction of the repositor for a moment or two, as elsewhere indicated in these notes. That knee-and-breast posture, so familiar to many for some time past, for certain purposes of surgery, should be made the subject of an extended report, will doubtless be a matter of some surprise to many. But it will perhaps occasion astonishment no less decided, should they, on searching the standard works on gynaecology, published during the past thirty years, both in this and foreign countries, find that even the posture is scarcely more than alluded to as a means of reducing the womb in any of its dislocations. The one or two exceptions to this, will be found in the works of Dr. T. Gaillard Thomas, of New York, and of Dr. Robert Barnes, of London. There may be others, but if such there be, diligent search has failed to make me familiar with them, up to this time. In these works it is the posture alone that is suggested—pneumatic pressure, the indispensable condition of power and the real instrumentality and sine qua non in the pro- cess of replacement advocated in my Report, is not once, even alluded to. The journal literature of this and other countries, for some ye.ars past, has teemed with discussions upon “ postural treatment/’ for various abnormal conditions of both men and women. I do not recall, but a very few, in which uterine reposi- tion at all, is their object; and I am not aware of a single instance in which distinct mention is made of the genu-pectoral posture being applied for its true object, the utilization of air-pressure as the instrumentality to effect uterine replacement, by gravity. If there is any such indoctrination, either in the books or the jour- nals of the last twenty years, besides those above referred to, it is more my misfortune than my fault that I have not become familiar with them.* And though the chapter of my Report re- lating to the history of knee-and-breast posture is closed, full * For some time past, Dr. J. H. Aveling has been furnishing to the pages of the Obstetrical Journal of G-reat Britain and Ireland, valuable discussions on “ The Influence of Posture on Women.’’ He speaks several times, of “ knee- elbow ” posture as being found advantageous, but I do not find that he any- where mentions air-pressure, or the introduction of air into the vagina, as an important element in carrying out any process for which he recommends the position.