Dr. Conquest's outlines of midwifery : intended as a text-book for students, and a book of reference for junior practitioners.

  • Conquest, Dr.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Conquest's outlines of midwifery : intended as a text-book for students, and a book of reference for junior practitioners. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Laceration of the vagina is often associated with rupture of the uterus, but it may occur independent of the latter injmy. The whole of the circumference of the cervix has, in a few instances, been separated from the uterus, in consequence of excessive rigidity of the os uteri.— J. M. W.] Of this mournful occurrence is very obscure, unless the general explanation of powerful action, with un- usual resistance, be admitted as satisfactory. On this principle, it is obvious that this fearful catastrophe may occur to women with distorted pelves; or in those cases of preternatural labour in which the liquor amnii has escaped prematurely, and in which there has been impetuous and irregular uterine contractions on some projecting part of the child. It has also resulted from unjustifiably forcible efforts to turn the foetus in utero, or to afford instrumental relief. [Violent action alone does not appear to be suffi- cient to account for laceration of the uterus in every instance, otherwise the accident would be more com- mon. It is probable that softening of the fibrous structure (the effect of inflammation) is an occasional cause of rupture. An atrophied and thin condition of the coats of the uterus may be another patho- logical condition likely to induce laceration. — J. M. W.]