Hom¿Opathic Journal of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Pediatrics

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ANCIENT AND MODERN OBSTETRICAL ANTISEPSIS. W. DULANY THOMAS, M. D., Baltimore. Demonstrator of Obstetrics in the Southern Homeopathic Medical College, Baltimore. The history of obstetrical antisepsis, extending as it does from primitive man to the present period, is replete with interest, while its...
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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ANCIENT AND MODERN OBSTETRICAL ANTISEPSIS. W. DULANY THOMAS, M. D., Baltimore. Demonstrator of Obstetrics in the Southern Homeopathic Medical College, Baltimore. The history of obstetrical antisepsis, extending as it does from primitive man to the present period, is replete with interest, while its progress intimately blends with the condition of the people, and the onward march of civilization. The obstetric art was among the first needed, and while from the expos6 of the parts the most capable of advancement, was hindered by a want of anatomical and physiological knowledge. Morever, the care of the lying-in department with the obstetrical aid necessary was left to the management of woman, aided by the priests in obscure cases, who were supposed to possess some mystical power. Thus but little progress was made, and it was not until the time of Pare?a French surgeon who flourished in the sixteenth century?that a sure foundation was laid for scientific obstetrical research. Then, and not until then, was any real advancement made. Empiricism was rejected, the priests with their mystical powers abolished, while the medical man equipped for service, installed with right motives and a more complete armamentarium pushed to the front, and to-day furls the flag of victory over a civilized race. The ideas of primitive man have been culled, and those deficient of success laid aside, and in this the nineteenth century we stand with perfected Caesarean section, axis traction forceps, antiseptics, etc., etc., as instruments of defense against the sufferings of womankind. Read before the Maryland State Homeopathic Medical Society, October 6, Antisepsis as practiced in ancient times, though rude, serves to show the intuitive sense which primitive man displayed toward...