A descriptive catalogue of wet preparations, casts, drawings, models, books, etc., contained in the Museum of the Birmingham and Midland Counties Lying-in Hospital and Dispensary for the Diseases of Women and Children / arranged and edited in compliance with the wishes of the Board and medical officers by John G. Connor.

  • Birmingham and Midland Counties Lying-in Hospital and Dispensary for the Diseases of Women and Children. Museum.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A descriptive catalogue of wet preparations, casts, drawings, models, books, etc., contained in the Museum of the Birmingham and Midland Counties Lying-in Hospital and Dispensary for the Diseases of Women and Children / arranged and edited in compliance with the wishes of the Board and medical officers by John G. Connor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    mortal Harvey, wliose name is indeed worthy of the whitest chalk, not much, substantially true, was known ; but with him came a new tera in science, and he deserves our admiratioa and thanks, as the leader of the glorious band of Anatomists and Physiologists of the present day, who have devoted so much time and attention to this important and interesting subject: to join them ought to be the wish of all who embrace the Obstetric branch of the Profession; and who knows, but to him may be entrusted the key of knowledge to some great and important event, that may help to cure, or, at least, alle- viate, the agony of suffering humanity ? Or, perhaps it may be his privilege to stay the hand of death, and gain even but one brief hour for tlie immortal soul of a dying sister, ere it bound over the barriers of time, and be launched into the ocean of eternity. Many are the reasons why this Institution should organise a Museum; and were it in abler hands to advocate the cause, and put it forward in its tnie light, many would see its utility. There is one grand and valid reason, at least, and that is—what Institution could afford as many opportunities as this for the collection of valuable specimens on the subjects connected with the Diseases of Women and Children ? And we well know, that to be a good Physiologist, able to give an account of the skill that is in him; or a sound Jurisprudist, able to give a just verdict when character and life are at stake; or skilful Phy- sicians, that wQl be able to help—^not mar—nature in her cures, we must be practically acquainted with our profession, and be so familiar with the look and feel of disease, as to be able clearly to distinguish healthy from unhealthy structures ; and a Museum ought to be a Re- positoiy of knowledge, wherein are kept the gems of practical experi- ence ; and, though, of course, some Preparations are far more valua- ble than others, there is not a single preparation in this Museum but bears strongly on some point essential to the knowledge of a good Pa. thologist. Physiologist, Jurisprudist, or sound Physician. I know many think that Midwifery is a very easy branch of the profession ; but such persons can be only superficially acquainted with it ; and I feel confident, ifthe mighty host of martyrs, the remnant of whose lives have been spent in protracted misery, caused by men who have taken the cure out of nature's hands, without having first acquired the knowledge to fit them for such a task; or, even if those wlio have been actually immola- ted at the altar of ignorance, were to appear in array before tlie young Physician, I feel sure he would not lay the flattering unction to his soul, that Midwifery was easy. For proof of what has been said, the Preparations themselves are appealed to, even more than to the Cata-