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ON THE EXTRACTION OF THE DEAD FŒTUS. - Hippocrates, The Writings of Hippocrates and Galen [1846]

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The Writings of Hippocrates and Galen. Epitomised from the Original Latin translations, by John Redman Coxe (Philadelphia: Lindsay and Blakiston, 1846).

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ON THE EXTRACTION OF THE DEAD FŒTUS.

DE FŒTUS IN UTERO MORTUI EXSECTIONE,FŒSIUS, Treat. ix. p. 914.
LIBER DE EXSECTIONE FŒTUS,HALLER, iv. p. 245.
TRAITÉ DE L’EXTRACTION DU FŒTUS MORT,GARDEIL, iv. p. 363.

This short treatise, says Haller, instructs us how to bring away the fœtus by piecemeal, and how to crush the head. It details moreover, a most extraordinary concussion of the parturient female, in order that the fœtus may obtain more room for its exit. Some directions are given in relation to the replacing of the prolapsed uterus.

Gardeil properly warns us against attributing to Hippocrates all of the doctrine in this short tract; which will, says he, shock the accoucheurs of our time in more parts than one,—and which we cannot accredit to him, after having perused the treatises already given.

I am about to notice the case, (says the author, whoever he may be,) in which the woman cannot be delivered naturally, and which requires the fœtus to be extracted by piecemeal;—beginning by veiling from her the sight of such a frightful operation, &c. The operation is then pretty amply detailed; and other cases of difficult delivery are mentioned. Then succeeds the plan adverted to, of shaking the female, at least ten times,—and if not successful, she is to be turned head downwards, her feet in the air, and to be well shaken by the shoulders, so as to afford the chance of the fœtus obtaining a more favourable position for his exit!a —Of side presentation; of the cord around the neck; the head locked, and hand projecting, are adverted to; and the subject of prolapsed uterus is then noticed. If the subject is old, it is best to do nothing; if young, the skin of the orifice and neck of the uterus is to be slightly incised, and that in both directions, rubbing it with a soft towel to excite inflammation and empty the vessels. Some unctions are next applied, or astringent lotions; after its reduction, tents of sponge with wine are introduced into the vagina, and a recumbent position, with the legs crossed, is maintained.

[a ]As this is a singular obstetrical operation of the olden times, we give it in detail from Gardeil, vol. iv. p. 365. It will be a bonne bouche for the accoucheurs of the present age.

“Voici comment on donne les secousses. On met un drap de lit sous la femme, qui s’y étend dessus. On on met un autre sur les cuisses, pour couvrir ses parties. On roule ces draps autour des cuisses et des bras. Puis deux femmes vigoureuses prendront celle qui est en travail, une de chaque côté par les bras, et deux autres par les cuisses. Elles la saccadent ainsi, (to jerk or shake,) dix fois au moins, en la tenant fortement. Ensuite, si cela n’a pas suffi, elles la mettent la tête en bas et les jambes en haut, la tenant par les cuisses, et la secouant vers les épaules, cherchant à faire passer ainsi le fœtus dans une place vide, pour qu’il prenne une situation plus favorable à sa sortie. Quand on ne voudra point avoir recours à ce moyen, on donnera du castor cuit dans du vin de Chio.”